It may ruffle a few feathers, but Bermuda is currently playing host to a very unusual visitor.

A Snowy Owl appears to have been blown off course and is on the Island — much to the surprise of students and staff at Mount Saint Agnes School where this picture was taken.

According to Jack Ward, Director of the Department of Conservation Services, the last time a Snowy Owl was in the Island it preyed on our endangered Cahows.

"If it becomes a problem then we will have to do something about it. The idea is that it stays in Bermuda for a little while then it moves on, so we don't have to interact with the bird."

"It may end up being a problem but hopefully not. The last one that was here they ended up shooting it."

The Snowy Owl is a large owl of the typical owl family Strigidae. It is also known in North America as the Arctic Owl or the Great White Owl.

This yellow-eyed white bird is easily recognisable. It is 20-26 inches long with a 40-60 inch wingspan.

The adult male is virtually pure white, but females and young birds have some dark scalloping.

Snowy Owls winter south through Canada and northernmost Eurasia, with irruptions occurring further south in some years.

They have been reported as far south as Texas, Georgia, the American Gulf states, southern Russia, northern China and even the Caribbean.