Can you tell if these are male or female snowy owls? At the website Allaboutbirds.org it says “Male Snowy Owls are barred with dark brown when they’re young and get whiter as they get older. Females keep some dark markings throughout their lives. Although the darkest males and the palest females are nearly alike in colour, the whitest birds—including the ones that played Harry Potter’s Hedwig—are always males and the most heavily barred ones are always females.“
These four separate owls were all in the same general area , not far apart, on a beach one day. Some of these owls may be juveniles, born this year in the Arctic and may still be changing in colour. What do you think? Which ones are female and are any male?
Sharon's Iconic Travel Photography Blog 
Are numbers two and four the female ones, perhaps?
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think 2 and 4 are adult females. I wonder whether the other two are juvenile females.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice work.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks! Just right place at the right time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My guess is that 1 and 3 are males, 2 and 4 are females. There are also some good comparison photos on allaboutbirds.com, but the ones you’ve got here are fantastic!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve seen ones on Cornell’s site. I am wondering though if it is a juvenile if you can really tell? People there think these two are juvenile snowys. I know the males get more white as they get older and have less bars.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seems hard to say with any certainty.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I don’t know males from females, but these are lovely.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Two are easier to figure out. I get mixed answers on the other two. Wish I knew.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great captures!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks! They make it easy! I don’t get many flight photos but that’s okay. I know of there plant themselves in the same spot for hours they are calm and not stressed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, do be careful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is hard to tell. When they are younger before adult as I understand it, they get darker lines or bars if they are female as they grow older. Males get lighter as they get closer to adulthood.
LikeLike