Relates to MC-258347.
According to a code analysis in MC-10369, withers were programmed to create snowball particles when summoned. However, these particles were created on the server and not the client, resulting in no visible snowball particles. While building withers does create particles, these are particles of the constituent blocks breaking and obviously not snowball textured.
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I believe snowball particles weren't intentional. Soul sand particles look much better.

Snowball particles in 1.2? Afaik, withers weren't added until 1.4.

Doesn't change the fact they were supposed to generate particles.
Can confirm in 1.16.5.
Can confirm in 21w11a.
Can confirm in 21w13a.
Can confirm in 21w15a.

If this is going to be fixed (which I don't think so), the soul sand particles should be removed otherwise it doesn't make any sense.

Affects 1.17

Can confirm in 1.17.1.

Interestingly snowball particles were visible until 13w03a, in which they fixed a wither-related bug (MC-3169)
Can confirm, although this is probably intended.