What animal is featured in the "O RLY?" internet meme?

The animal featured in the “O RLY?” internet meme is a snowy owl.

The meme uses a photograph of a snowy owl with narrowed eyes and a skeptical-looking expression. The image became associated with the deliberately misspelled phrase “O RLY?”, shorthand for “Oh, really?”, and was commonly followed by “YA RLY” and “NO WAI” in image macros. Its humor came from presenting a deadpan animal photograph as if the owl were sarcastically challenging someone.

Snowy owls are Arctic birds scientifically known as Bubo scandiacus. They breed mainly on tundra across Arctic regions of North America and the Palearctic. Their mostly white plumage helps distinguish them from many other owl species, although females and younger birds often show more dark barring than adult males.

A common mix-up is identifying the bird as a barn owl or eagle. The meme’s subject is specifically a snowy owl; the image’s white plumage and rounded owl form are central to its recognizable appearance.