The snowy owl’s scientific species name is Bubo scandiacus.
The name places the bird in the genus Bubo, which also includes several large eagle-owls. The species name scandiacus refers to Scandinavia, where the owl was scientifically described and has long been known. Older sources may use Nyctea scandiaca, because the snowy owl was once placed in its own genus, Nyctea.
Snowy owls breed across the Arctic tundra of North America and Eurasia. Their white plumage provides camouflage, although females and younger birds usually show more dark barring than adult males. They are active by day as well as at night, an adaptation useful during the Arctic summer’s long daylight.
The owl is not restricted to polar regions year-round. In some winters, individuals travel south in an irregular movement called an irruption, reaching parts of Canada, the northern United States, and Eurasia. It is commonly confused with other white owls, but Bubo scandiacus specifically identifies the snowy owl.