Chris Hill wrote:

>Or, perhaps more likely at that location, a Barn Owl? If you look at them
>from the front, they're "white with a few dark speckles."
>
>Hate to play the doubting thomas to what seems to be a clear ID, but I
>know a few cases where non-birders have reported snowies that turned out
>to be something else (even Red-tailed Hawks are sometimes reported as
>snowy owls!). Seems clear cut to the experienced observer, but
>it's not always to the beginner or non-birder. And emphatic pointing at a
>field guide is not *always* a sign of a conclusive ID ;)

Although Jim's bird certainly sounds like a Snowy, I have to agree entirely
with Chris. I've seen/heard of quite a few Barn Owls miscalled Snowies,
both live and dead ones.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone 253-756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax 253-756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416
http://www.ups.edu/biology/museum/museum.html