Hedwig is the name of Harry Potter’s owl in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter universe. Hagrid gives Harry the snowy owl as a birthday present during Harry’s first visit to Diagon Alley.
Hedwig becomes Harry’s principal messenger during his years at Hogwarts. Owls carry letters and packages between witches and wizards, making them an important part of communication in the magical world. Hedwig is usually described as a snowy owl, although the character was portrayed by several female snowy owls in the films.
Hedwig’s role becomes more emotionally significant as the story progresses. The owl represents Harry’s connection to the wizarding world and to people outside the Dursley household. Hedwig is sometimes confused with other wizarding pets, including Ron’s rat Scabbers and later owl Pigwidgeon, or with Errol, the Weasley family’s aging owl.