this post was submitted on 05 Dec 2023
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Superbowl

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WINNER: SOOTY OWL 30-26

The Eurasian Eagle Owl had long been a hit on the Internet. Large, powerful, and beautiful, it always grabs your attention. Imprinted Eagle Owls are one of the more popular choices to work as rodent and bird control. It is one of the most widespread owls of the Eurasian continent. This big owl has a lot of start power; will it prevail today?

This was originally supposed to be the Greater Sooty Owl, but a lot of pics of the Greater and Lesser Sooty aren't labeled as such (almost as much fun as Little Owl vs Little Owl pics) so I'm going to lump them together since I'm not sure I can 100% identify then.

If you like the Barn Owl, you may also love it's dark Goth/Glam cousin, the Sooty Owls. These owls from down under have a great look, and a terrifying shriek call that would fit in great in a horror movie soundtrack. Their dark color makes them very hard to find, so they're rare birds to encounter. Is this dark, mysterious stranger able to take down an Internet celebrity?

Upvote this post and your favorite below! Also, don't miss out on the Barking Owl vs Little Owl from earlier today!

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[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 33 points 11 months ago (1 children)
[–] Chetzemoka@startrek.website 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)
[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

It is one dang fine bird!

Like heck that's a Lesser Sooty Owl.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 27 points 11 months ago (1 children)
[–] jenny_ball@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

the king of the resting bitch face

[–] Maddie@sh.itjust.works 10 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Team Sooty Owl, she's such a Goth queen!

[–] casmael@lemm.ee 4 points 11 months ago

My first thought exactly - strong goth energy with this one 🖤

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

Yes indeed!

I want to say all these pics are actually of the Lesser Sooty. The LSO has lighter coloring which I think really highlights the features nicely.

[–] Shellbeach@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

In French, those birds have 2 different names: the ones with "ears" are called "hiboux", those without are called "chouette". They have only one word for "hawk" and "falcon" though.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

Thank you! There's another French speaker here that gives me language tips as well. I love all the things I get to learn from you all here!

[–] 342345@feddit.de 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Can't decide. So both it is! :)

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

Nothing wrong with that, they both ARE great!

I think all these posts so far have had upvotes that exceed the total of owl votes, so I've just been assuming those are votes for both.

[–] pseudo@jlai.lu 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

See OP these owl are school case of the difference btw hibou (on the left) and chouette (on the right).
And I'm team Hibou sans hésitation !

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Je préfère généralement les hiboux aussi. J'en ai un délicat à venir avec le "Phodile calong".

C'est un genre Tyto comme Chouette, mais il a des cornes.

[–] pseudo@jlai.lu 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)
[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

C'est l'un de mes préférés!

On dirait que ça vient d'une autre planète. Je pense que c'est le hibou/chouette le plus inhabituel de tous.

[–] Wodge@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

When I was a kid, some folk from the sadly now closed Penscynor Wildlife Park brought in some big birds to my school for a feathery showoff session, and I got a Eagle Owl to sit on my arm, it was almost as tall as me, weighed a fookin ton, and it glared at me in the eyes then shat on my arm.

So obviously my vote is for that big eared feathery bastage the Eagle Owl.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

Lol, the poo is always the finishing touch!

We went to an event at the local library a few weeks ago that was mainly kids, and every time those owls let one go, the kids loved it.

An Eagle Owl that was working at the beach was my first post here I believe.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

I can't say I saw the voting going this way!

The Tyto owls are putting up a strong start to these first few rounds. I'm really getting a kick out of seeing your preferences and I love all the chatter we're getting on the pics.