Snowy Owl, ?????

[DNA]

I spotted a large white bird of prey in Centennial Park, near Pearson Airport yesterday (April 12, 2016).

I've never seen a bird quite like it. All white at a distance, but had a couple of dark streaks on tail (noted through binoculars). It looked like a hawk, though it did have a bit of a rounded head. The head seemed small enough compared to the shoulders to be a hawk, not an owl. ??  The beak was not as "hidden" as I'd expect on an owl. I didn't get to see its eyes. It had tawny/brown vertical streaks on its head.

Not sure what I saw, and I've never seen snowies around there into mid-April. Was it most likely a snowy?

[Paul O'Toole]

Could have been a snowy as some linger into April. Oddly we had one spend the entire two summers ago on Amherst Island but that was uncommon. The odd time a Leucistic Red-tailed hawk is seen but the tail usually has enough colour to make it easy to ID from a distance. Here is an older shot with an older camera (D50) a few years back of one from a distance. My guess your sighting was a lingering snowy owl.

[DNA]

Thanks, Paul. Will note it as a snowy.

Cool photo of the hawk.

[thouc]

I think you should note it as unidentified raptor/owl as you noted several features against it being an owl.

Regards,
 Thomas

[mr.sharp-photo]

an owl's wingspan make it quite easy to differentiate from a hawk. also, was it flapping or gliding?

[DNA]

Thanks, Thomas. Unfortunately, it was sitting on the lowest rung of a big hydro tower. It took off, but against a cloud and at an angle and "disappeared." I had extraordinarily bad luck for an interesting and chance spotting. lol