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Expedition 🇺🇸 United States

Snowy Owl in United States

The ghost of the Arctic — a white hunter of the tundra that drifts south in irruption years and hunts lemmings by daylight.

Snowy Owl

The species

The snowy owl is one of the largest and most striking owls on Earth: pure white with black flecks in males, more barred in females, and bright yellow eyes that scan the tundra for lemmings. Unlike most owls, it hunts primarily by day — a adaptation to the Arctic summer when the sun barely sets.

Habitat in United States

Arctic tundra across Canada, Alaska, and Eurasia holds breeding snowy owls. In winter they move south to open country — airports, farmland, and coastlines — following lemming cycles and food availability.

Where to spot one

  • Central Park

    New York City

    Urban ponds for mallards, pigeons on the paths, and sparrows in every shrub — a compact starter loop in Manhattan.

  • Golden Gate Park

    San Francisco

    Lakes, meadows, and tree cover where common birds and park wildlife turn an afternoon stroll into a discovery session.

  • Suburban Park Systems

    Nationwide

    Local green spaces across the US — pond edges, playground perimeters, and dog-walking trails where the everyday species gather.

  • Neighbourhood Streets

    Nationwide

    Front gardens, fence lines, and café patios — where house cats watch from walls and sparrows squabble over crumbs.

Conservation status

VU — Vulnerable

Snowy owls are Vulnerable, with populations linked to unpredictable lemming cycles and climate change affecting Arctic habitat. They face disturbance from increasing tourism and vehicle collisions.

Keep exploring

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