Closeup of female snowy owl in flight

This spotted female snowy owl soars through an uninterrupted blue sky. The female snowy owl has a wingspan between 49 and 59 inches, allowing these birds of prey to fly high and fly fast through the arctic tundra.

This photo was taken in Barrow, Alaska, on a photography workshop led by professional photographer Matt Shetzer. Some years dozens of female snowy owls and their mates descend on Barrow, while other years the finicky birds will skip the town entirely. The owls will base their nesting habits on the availability of lemmings, their primary food source. Male snowy owls hunt while the female snowy owls protect the nest.

Stock Image #20140712-123259