Young male snowy owls have dark brown barring, which fades as they grow older, making them whiter over time. They live in the tundra, so their coloring helps them blend in while stalking prey.
Art and fact by Cloude Shao, Instagram @cloude_paint
[Edited by Nicole Rodrigues]
Reference:
Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (n.d.). Snowy owl. All About Birds. Retrieved January 3, 2025, from https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snowy_Owl