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!

    • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
      3·
      10 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·
    10 months ago

    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.worldOP
      3·
      10 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!

    • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
      3·
      10 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.

  • Wodge@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    10 months ago

    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.worldOP
      1·
      10 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.

  • pseudo@jlai.lu
    2·
    10 months ago

    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.worldOP
      2·
      10 months ago

      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.

        • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
          2·
          10 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.

  • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
    1·
    10 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.