Snowy owls have flown back to Washington.

Several of the arctic birds have been spotted around the Pacific Northwest recently, including in major urban areas such as Seattle and Everett.

It's typical for snowy owls to arrive in the U.S. every three or four winters.

But last year the number of the white birds erupted. Birders from the Pacific Northwest to New England reported frequent sightings of the yellow-eyed birds.

The birds can top 2 feet in height with a wingspan of nearly 5 feet.

The Everett Herald reports (http://bit.ly/RZp0CY) a snowy owl visited Everett High School on Tuesday. It was nonchalant as crows tried to drive it from its perch.

The birds were made famous for its role as Harry Potter's companion - Hedwig - in the books and movies.