Snowy Owl at Milford Point: Connecticut Audubon Bird Finder for December 8

Snowy Owl
Nyctea scandiaca

One of the season’s first Snowy Owls was observed resting on the sandbar at the Milford Point Coastal Center on Sunday, December 7. Last year, as you remember, there was an amazing influx of Snowies. That irruption may be followed by a minor irruption this year, as at least two Snowy Owls have been reported in the state this fall. Scientists report that such irruptions may be the result, not of lemming shortages in the north, but of periods of lemming abundance, which results in a highly productive breeding season for the owls and thus many more young owls heading south. The high number of immature owls during these invasions provides evidence of a highly successful breeding season in the Arctic. [Revised on December 9 to reflect a better understanding of what causes Snowy Owl irruptions.[

What it looks like: A large northern owl, the Snowy Owl is our heaviest owl. Snowy Owls are unmistakable white raptors that perch prominently in open areas, often near marshes, dunes and meadows. Although mostly white, Snowy Owls vary in the amount of dark barring on their feathers, the young birds being more heavily barred than adults, and females more than males. In flight, their heavy build, round head and broad white wings are distinctive. These owls can be more active during the daytime, often moving from perch to perch and observed hunting.

Where to find it: Open marshes, dunes, farmland and other open areas. At the Milford Point Coastal Center, look for this bird on the exposed sandbar in front of the Center, but also perched on flotsam in the marsh. You will do best with a spotting scope. If the bird is in the marsh, you might be able to observe it with the scope in the Coastal Center’s observation room.

How to find it: Snowy Owls are relatively easy to find. Scan all open areas for a prominent white bump in an exposed area. Sometimes they may be found roosting on a rooftop of a beach cottage, but almost never in a tree.

What if it isn’t there: There are lots of winter birds moving down along the shoreline now, so you could be rewarded with a variety of duck species including wigeon, Buffleheads and Hooded Mergansers, as well as loons and other waterbirds frequenting the same general location as the owl.

Conservation status: The IUCN lists the Snowy Owl as a species of Least Concern

This week’s Connecticut Audubon Society Bird Finder was written by Milan Bull, Connecticut Audubon Society’s senior director of science and conservation, and edited by Tom Andersen.

Photo taken at Milford Point in February 2014 by Kin Cheng.