Illustration of snowy owl
snowy owl
noun
: a large ground-nesting diurnal arctic owl (Bubo scandiacus) that enters the chiefly northern parts of the U.S. in winter and has plumage that is sometimes nearly pure white but usually with brownish spots or bars
Examples of snowy owl in a Sentence
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More than 40 animal species — including the snowy owl, cheetah and great hammerhead shark — have been designated for international protection following a United Nations summit on migratory species.
—
Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
How common are snowy owl sightings in Wisconsin?
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 26 Jan. 2026
While snowy owls aren't rare in Chicago, their frequency varies widely each winter.
—CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025
Speaking of owls, the last couple of years, there have been snowy owls at Denver International Airport.
—Jamie Siebrase, Denver Post, 14 Nov. 2025
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Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
How common are snowy owl sightings in Wisconsin?
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 26 Jan. 2026
While snowy owls aren't rare in Chicago, their frequency varies widely each winter.
—CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025
Speaking of owls, the last couple of years, there have been snowy owls at Denver International Airport.
—Jamie Siebrase, Denver Post, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for snowy owl
Cite this Entry
“Snowy owl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snowy%20owl. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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