Reports of sightings of the rare snowy owl in Queen Anne, Seattle has caused some excitement amongst citizens and netizens.
The rare bird seems to be making the neighbourhood its current home this season.
These owls are the largest in the US by weight and are a very rare sight in Western Washington, which is just outside their usual winter range.
These birds are actually native to the arctic regions of North America and usually breed here.
Saying this, the bird is known to migrate south of the Canadian border during the violent winters.
Bird watchers from all over are flocking to the neighborhood to catch a glimpse of the “once in a lifetime sighting.”
It appears to be a female from the rare owl’s white and mottled brown pattern on its body appear.
The startling yellow eyes are also a distinct feature of the species.
These owls prefer to perch lower to the ground on things like dunes, telephone posts, and fence posts.
They also fly lower to the ground, this is all to target their preferred prey of rodents.
With tools such as excellent hearing, the owls are able to detect prey from even under a blanket of snow.
And unlike other owls which are nocturnal, this fascinating creature is diurnal (is awake in the day).
They are very solitary creatures, other than the breeding season of course, which explains why this one is alone in all the pictures captures.
If you want to catch a sighting, be sure to bring your binoculars. Wildlife experts recommend keeping a 100-foot distance between themselves and the owl to avoid disturbing it.
