What Is the Provincial Bird of Quebec? Official Answer

Quebec's official bird emblem is the snowy owl, known in French as "harfang des neiges" and scientifically as Nyctea scandiaca. The designation is written directly into Quebec law: the Act respecting the flag and emblems of Québec names the snowy owl as the "emblematic bird of Québec," and the National Assembly formally adopted it in 1987. In 1987, the National Assembly conferred on the snowy owl the title of the avian emblem of Québec, identifying it as the “harfang des neiges.” In 1987, the National Assembly conferred on the snowy owl the avian emblem of Québec title. So yes, Quebec has an official provincial bird, and it's one of the most striking owls on the continent.

Quebec's official bird emblem: the snowy owl

The snowy owl (Nyctea scandiaca) is Quebec's legally designated bird emblem, confirmed under chapter D-12.1 of Quebec's legislation. You may see the designation referred to as the "emblème aviaire" in French-language government sources, which translates directly to "bird emblem" or "avian emblem. The Quebec government’s guidance on the provincial flag lists the province’s official emblems, including the avian emblem “harfang des neiges” (snowy owl) emblèmes aviaires. " While the phrase "provincial bird" is the common shorthand most people use, the official legal category is "emblematic bird of Québec", same concept, slightly different wording. Either way, the snowy owl is the answer.

What exactly is the snowy owl

The snowy owl is North America's heaviest owl, typically weighing around 4 pounds (roughly 1.8 kg). It's a large, round-headed bird with no ear tufts, and its plumage ranges from nearly pure white to white heavily barred or spotted with dark brown, depending on the individual's sex and age. Adult males tend to be almost all white, while females and younger birds show more dark patterning. It's the kind of bird that stops you cold when you see one sitting on a fence post in an open field in January.

How to identify a snowy owl in the field

The snowy owl is hard to mistake for anything else in North America. Its sheer size, round head, and bold white-to-barred plumage make it stand out immediately, especially against a winter landscape. A few quick identification cues:

• Large, blocky body with a round head and no visible ear tufts
• Plumage is white, ranging from nearly pure white (adult males) to white with heavy dark brown barring (females and immatures)
• Yellow eyes, set in a flat facial disc
• In flight, large and buoyant with steady, powerful wingbeats
• Often perches conspicuously in open areas: fence posts, hay bales, utility poles, open fields, and rooftops

If you're in Quebec during winter, you have a real shot at seeing one in the southern part of the province. Queensland, Australia, has its own official state bird as well, which is commonly listed in state government and wildlife resources state bird of Queensland. Snowy owls breed in the Arctic and subarctic regions, including northern Quebec (the Nunavik region), but they move south in winter and regularly turn up in agricultural areas and open country across southern Quebec. The numbers vary year to year, with some winters bringing significant southward irruptions. Breeding in northern Quebec is documented but irregular, tied closely to prey availability.

Why Quebec chose the snowy owl

The Quebec government's own emblem page explains the symbolism clearly: the snowy owl represents "la blancheur des hivers québécois" (the whiteness of Quebec winters) and the province's deep connection to a semi-northern climate. The bird's broad presence across Quebec's vast territory, from the Arctic breeding grounds in the north to the agricultural lowlands in the south during winter, made it a natural fit as a symbol of the whole province.

Canada's federal heritage resources also frame the 1987 adoption as a symbol of Quebec's commitment to wildlife protection. The snowy owl was recognized not just as a striking emblem but as a species tied to the wild, northern identity that defines much of Quebec's geography and character. The National Assembly's formal adoption in 1987 locked that symbolism into law.

How to verify this officially

There are three solid routes to confirm the snowy owl's official status today, each pointing to authoritative government sources:

1. Légis Québec (legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca): Search for chapter D-12.1, the Act respecting the flag and emblems of Québec. Look for "EMBLÈME AVIAIRE" and you'll find "harfang des neiges" (Nyctea scandiaca) named directly in the statute.
2. Gouvernement du Québec emblem page (quebec.ca): The official government site has a dedicated page on the harfang des neiges as the province's bird emblem, explaining the 1987 National Assembly designation and the symbolism behind the choice.
3. Canada.ca (Canadian Heritage): The federal government's provincial and territorial symbols page lists Quebec's snowy owl as the adopted official bird (1987), cross-referencing it under national heritage resources.

Any one of these will confirm it. The legal text in Légis Québec is the most authoritative if you need a definitive citation.

Does the snowy owl match any U.S. state bird

No U. If you meant Victoria in Australia, its state bird is the Australian king parrot, which is often listed as the official bird for Victoria state bird of Victoria. S. state has designated the snowy owl as its official state bird. The snowy owl is not on the list of any of the 50 U.S. state bird designations, making Quebec's choice genuinely distinctive in North American bird symbolism. The closest parallels in the U.S. state bird world are other owl species, but none are the snowy owl specifically.

That said, if you're exploring provincial bird symbols across Canada, Quebec's choice has interesting neighbors. Other Canadian provinces have gone in very different directions with their bird emblems. Newfoundland and Labrador chose the Atlantic puffin, a seabird equally tied to regional identity. Alberta and Manitoba both have bird emblems rooted in their own distinct landscapes. Alberta's provincial bird is the common goldeneye. Manitoba’s provincial bird is the great grey owl. Comparing these provincial choices to U.S. state bird designations reveals how geography, climate, and cultural identity consistently shape the species that get picked as official symbols.

Quick reference: Quebec's bird emblem at a glance