Feet heavily feathered. Lack true facial disk. A distinctive white owl with varying degrees of dark brown spotting and barring. Adult males are almost pure white, although they have up to three tail bands. Adult females are distinctly barred throughout, although white tail dominates.
Females usually have from four to six tail bands.
Immatures are very heavily barred throughout, and dark spotting may codominate or dominate the overall plumage. An easy owl to reconize. Also, they are rusty or tawny colored dorsally. Breeds on Arctic tundra. Winters primarily on open plains, and in costal and agricultural areas.