Hedwig

Hedwig is the name of Harry James Potter's owl in the fictional series of books and films. In the Harry Potter movies Hedwig, despite being female, is played by a male Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) because males are purer white. 

Hedwig is a gift to Harry from Hagrid in the first book of the series, purchased in Diagon Alley while shopping for supplies for Harry's first year at Hogwarts. The name Hedwig is a name Harry found in his school book "A History Of Magic".

In the series, owls are used by witches and wizards primarily as message and package couriers, which make owls more useful than the other pets allowed students (rats, toads and cats), so Hedwig is used for messages throughout the series. Keeping Hedwig at home during the summer holiday continues to be just one more area of conflict between Harry and his Muggle guardian aunt and uncle.

In the Harry Potter and_the Order of the Phoenix, Hedwig is injured while carrying a message between Harry and Sirius Black. It was never clearly stated as to what exactly was responsible for the attack on Hedwig, but Dolores Umbridge was suspected later in the book when she began inspecting incoming and outgoing letters.

Hedwig could be considered an owl with a 'formal' personality, somewhat disdainful of Pigwidgeon's hyperactive bumbling and the flashy tropical birds sent by Sirius Black at one time. She also has a habit of staring/hooting "reproachfully", cuffing Harry with a wing when miffed (which is rather often), and being far more vocal than the average Snowy Owl. Due to her relationship with Harry, she can almost be said to have a maternal instinct towards Harry, despite her being an animal, due to the seeming magic nature of owls in the series, and the fact that she almost seems to be trying to give Harry the kind of support a parent might. Though she also can (and does) act with hurt or anger (such as when Harry was unable to use Hedwig for a time to communicate to the outside world, particularly with Sirius Black, his godfather and he failed to explain the situation properly to her) due to Harry's sometimes innocently thoughtless actions or words. It is implied throughout the books that Hedwig can fully understand Harry and apparently to some extent and vice versa.

J.K. Rowling has said that she found the name "Hedwig" in a book of medieval saints; Saint_Hedwig has become known as a patron saint of orphans and abandoned children.

In the Russian translation, Hedwig is translated to Booklya, which is a type of French hairdo.

On the cover of Harry Potter and the Chamber_of_Secrets, Hedwig is incorrectly shown as a Barn Owl.