MAP: Snowy Owl Sightings in Chicago Area

Bird enthusiasts are enjoying an “invasion” of snowy owls in Chicago and across northeastern Illinois this winter.

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The majestic-looking bird is typically spotted only a few times each year in Illinois. But by the end of November, there had already been 23 snowy owl sightings in the state this year.

In the past few weeks alone, nearly 300 snowy owl photos taken in Illinois were posted to eBird, a website operated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Snowy owls, which breed in Alaska and northern Canada, often fly south for the winter, landing near lakeshores and on large fields, such as golf courses.

The most recent “invasion” of snowy owls was 2013, when 271 of the birds were documented in Illinois.

The map below shows locations where snowy owls have been reported this year in the Chicago area, based on data compiled by eBird.


Contact Alex Ruppenthal: @arupp [email protected] | (773) 509-5623


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