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Snowy Owl

Bubo scandiacus

Bird · family Strigidae · order Strigiformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G4: apparently secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Snowy Owl
Photo: Bill Bouton from San Luis Obispo, CA, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G4 Apparently Secure[2]
Native in
31 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
23 years[4]

The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a bird in the owl family Strigidae[5]. It is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act, and NatureServe ranks it Apparently Secure worldwide[1][2].

Conservation status

Snowy Owl is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. That only describes federal listing. It does not mean the bird is free of risk. NatureServe ranks it G4, Apparently Secure, worldwide, and Apparently Secure in the United States for both breeding and nonbreeding birds[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Vulnerable[7]. NatureServe also cites an estimate that North American numbers fell by 64% from 1970 to 2014[8]. The owl is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[9] and is in CITES Appendix II, which sets controls on international trade[10].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G4 (Apparently Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N4B,N4N (Apparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Vulnerable
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[9] Protected
CITES (international trade)[10] Appendix II
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[11] 10,000 to 100,000 individuals

Where Snowy Owl lives

NatureServe lists Snowy Owl as native in 31 US states and territories[3]. These include Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Massachusetts, New York and Maine[3]. Most of NatureServe's state ranks for the species are SNA[12]. These lists show where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see one[3].

Alaska: native, state rank S3AKMaine: native, state rank S2NMEWisconsin: native, state rank SNAWIVermont: native, state rank SNAVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank SNANHWashington: native, state rank S3NWAIdaho: native, state rank SNAIDMontana: native, state rank SNAMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNANDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRNMNIllinois: native, state rank SNAILMichigan: native, state rank SNRNMINew York: native, state rank SNRNNYMassachusetts: native, state rank S2NMAOregon: native, state rank SNAORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: native, state rank SNAWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S3NSDIowa: native, state rank S2NIAIndiana: native, state rank SNAINOhio: native, state rank SNRNOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: native, state rank S4NNJConnecticut: native, state rank SNACTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: native, state rank SNACONebraska: native, state rank SNRNNEMissouri: native, state rank SNAMOKentucky: native, state rank SNAKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: native, state rank SNAVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: native, state rank SNADEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: native, state rank SNAKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: native, state rank SNANCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S1NDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[12].
Show state ranks (31 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlaskaS3Vulnerable
ColoradoSNANot Applicable
ConnecticutSNANot Applicable
DelawareSNANot Applicable
District of ColumbiaS1NCritically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
IdahoSNANot Applicable
IllinoisSNANot Applicable
IndianaSNANot Applicable
IowaS2NImperiled (nonbreeding)
KansasSNANot Applicable
KentuckySNANot Applicable
MaineS2NImperiled (nonbreeding)
MassachusettsS2NImperiled (nonbreeding)
MichiganSNRNNot Ranked (nonbreeding)
MinnesotaSNRNNot Ranked (nonbreeding)
MissouriSNANot Applicable
MontanaSNANot Applicable
NebraskaSNRNNot Ranked (nonbreeding)
New HampshireSNANot Applicable
New JerseyS4NApparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkSNRNNot Ranked (nonbreeding)
North CarolinaSNANot Applicable
North DakotaSNANot Applicable
OhioSNRNNot Ranked (nonbreeding)
OregonSNANot Applicable
South DakotaS3NVulnerable (nonbreeding)
VermontSNANot Applicable
VirginiaSNANot Applicable
WashingtonS3NVulnerable (nonbreeding)
WisconsinSNANot Applicable
WyomingSNANot Applicable

Habitat

Snowy Owl is a bird of open ground[13]. NatureServe records tundra, grassland, cropland, herbaceous wetland, tidal flat and shore, and near shore and open sea habitats[14]. On its breeding grounds it likes tundra with mounds or rocks, and it nests on the ground in a scraped out spot, usually on a slightly raised place[13]. In winter and on migration it also uses open country like prairie, marshes, fields, pastures, sand dunes and shores[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[14]

Size, diet and lifespan

Snowy Owl is a meat eater[15]. Its diet is mostly lemmings and voles, with other rodents, hares and birds as backup prey[16]. NatureServe records a typical length of 58 cm (23 in) and a typical adult weight of 2 kg (4 lb)[17][18]. The longest recorded lifespan is 28 years in captivity[19]. The oldest known wild bird from banding records was at least 23 years 10 months old[4]. A typical clutch is 6 eggs, and incubation takes 32 days[20][21]. Females reach sexual maturity at 730 days old[22].

Trait Value
Typical length[17] 58 cm (23 in)
Typical adult weight[18] 2 kg (4 lb)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[19] 28 years (captivity)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 23 years 10 months
Litter or clutch size[20] 6
Gestation or incubation[21] 32 days
Female maturity[22] 730 days (about 2.0 years)
Food habits[15] Carnivore
Migration[23] non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant

When to look for it

Snowy Owl is recorded as active by day and by night[24]. In the arctic summer it may hunt in daylight and in the dim night hours[25]. After breeding, birds spread out and move to places where there is enough food to stay through winter[26]. NatureServe lists its movement as non-migrant, local migrant or long-distance migrant, depending on the population[23]. On GBIF, most US records fall in December, January and February, with the fewest in August and September[27]. Those records reflect when people look and report, not how many owls there are[27].

January: 41,217 recordsJanFebruary: 23,801 recordsFebMarch: 12,701 recordsMarApril: 4,863 recordsAprMay: 1,991 recordsMayJune: 3,349 recordsJunJuly: 1,956 recordsJulAugust: 652 recordsAugSeptember: 428 recordsSepOctober: 765 recordsOctNovember: 12,311 recordsNovDecember: 35,271 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[27].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January41,217
February23,801
March12,701
April4,863
May1,991
June3,349
July1,956
August652
September428
October765
November12,311
December35,271

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Snowy Owl as present in 21 park units[28]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Michigan, Massachusetts, New York, Wisconsin, Alaska[29]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Snowy Owl endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it Apparently Secure worldwide, while the IUCN category it records is Vulnerable[2][7].
Where does the Snowy Owl live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as native in 31 US states and territories, including Alaska, Montana, Minnesota, Michigan and New York[3]. It nests on open tundra[13].
What does the Snowy Owl eat?
It eats mostly lemmings and voles, and also other rodents, hares and birds[16].
How big is a Snowy Owl?
NatureServe records a typical length of 58 cm (23 in) and a typical adult weight of 2 kg (4 lb)[17][18].
When is the best time to see a Snowy Owl?
GBIF records in the US are highest in December, January and February[27]. That shows when people report them, not how many owls there are[27].

Facts and sources

  1. Snowy Owl is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Snowy Owl: G4 (Apparently Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Snowy Owl as native in 31 US states and territories: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Snowy Owl from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 23 years 10 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a bird in the family Strigidae, order Strigiformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N4B,N4N (Apparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Vulnerable. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe notes on trend for Snowy Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  9. Snowy Owl is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  10. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix II (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 10,000 to 100,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe state ranks for Snowy Owl (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Snowy Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Habitat types NatureServe records for Snowy Owl: Grassland/herbaceous, Tundra, Cropland/hedgerow, Herbaceous wetland, Tidal flat/shore, Pelagic, Near shore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore. NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe notes on food for Snowy Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 58 cm (23 in). NatureServe Explorer
  18. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 2 kg (4 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  19. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 28 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  20. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 6. AnAge
  21. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 32 days. AnAge
  22. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 730 days (about 2.0 years). AnAge
  23. NatureServe migration category for Snowy Owl: non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  24. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal, Nocturnal. NatureServe Explorer
  25. NatureServe notes on phenology for Snowy Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  26. NatureServe notes on migration for Snowy Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  27. GBIF observation records of Snowy Owl in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  28. NPSpecies park lists recording Snowy Owl as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  29. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Snowy Owl: Michigan, Massachusetts, New York, Wisconsin, Alaska. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Bill Bouton from San Luis Obispo, CA, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.