Snowy owls from the Arctic are being spotted in Nebraska and other Plains states this winter because large numbers of the bird migrated further south than usual this year in search of food.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says 58 sightings of snowy owls have been recorded in the state.

The agency's nongame bird specialist Joel Jorgensen says an exceptional numbers of the owls may visit the region this year because of a shortage of food in the Arctic.

Betsy Finch with Raptor Recovery Nebraska says in recent weeks 49 snowy owl sightings have been reported in Iowa and more than 100 were reported in Wisconsin.

Audubon magazine's website reports that snowy owls have been spotted as far south as Oklahoma and Hawaii.