Today is a day for very contrasting owls here at OotY.

In our first match today, we have the only native owl of New Zealand: Ruru, or as it’s known to the rest of the world, the Morepork.

Both names are onomatopoeia of its delightful call. The Morepork is a hawk owl or boobook owl, so it has the body contours of the related Australian and Tasmanian Strix owls. That gives it the smaller rounder head, though still with typically large owl eyes, giving it some great facial expressions.

It is only due to ongoing studies, that after 200 years, it has been recognized as its own unique species, whereas for the past 2 centuries, it was either thought to be a type of Australian or Tasmanian Boobook. Now it is almost universally acknowledged that New Zealand gets to claim this owl as its very own as of 2022.

Though they usually pounce from a perch to hunt, their hawk-like bodies allow them to fly with great agility and take insects from the air. They will also hunt small mammals, caterpillars, and spiders.

Having only been accepted as a unique owl in the last few years, Morepork is here to make a name for itself and prove it is as superb an owl as any other. Will this small, charming bird gain your acknowledgement today?

Spotted Eagle Owl may look a little more familiar than it may sound. While still a large owl, these are the smallest Eagle Owls, and even smaller than the Great Horned Owl, though it shares many characteristics of their larger relatives. If you like Eagle Owls or GHO, you may find this smaller version to your liking.

The Spotty is found all over sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian peninsula. It is the most ubiquitous owl of southern Africa and is not afraid to live near people, leading it to be one of the most common owls we see here showing up at Owl Rescue Centre and the other South African rescues we see in the daily posts.

Being smaller, it will hunt insects and small birds or reptiles, but as it is still an Eagle Owl, mammals are still the top choice on the menu.

Like the Eurasian Eagle Owl, they prefer to live and raise their young on rocky outcroppings that give them a wide view of the surrounding and they like to hunt in open areas.

This tiny giant has a lot of great looking attributes. Yellow to orange eyes, a finely barred belly, large plumicorns, and of course that namesake spotted chest.

Does the smallest Eagle Owl still make the biggest impression on you? If so, vote for it now!

  • Optional@lemmy.world
    2·
    8 days ago

    Finally a match-up where I won’t feel bad if my candidate doesn’t win. Gotta show the NZ owl the love, but hey, if Spotted Eagle runs away with it - also good! What a fantastic coloring for the GHO template in me noggin.

    • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
      2·
      8 days ago

      We will still get plenty of Spotteds from the South African rescues I follow to get my White Face pics. I need to find some more NZ rescues to get Ruru popping up more often. I thought I had a few on my feed, but I don’t know the last time one came across my list on its own.

  • Nima@leminal.spaceEnglish
    7·
    9 days ago

    all I can think of is Ankh-Morpork from Discworld. I was today years old when I found out it’s a real owl. =O

    • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
      6·
      9 days ago

      I have finally been going through Discworld since it inevitably comes up every time this little guy does! I just started Moving Pictures today.

      I read a few and then went back to start from the beginning. I read Guards, Guards first, then switched to audiobooks for Mort and Equal Rites, and then just started from the beginning.

      It’s been much more uplifting than the political podcasts I’d normally listen to on my commute, though it covers much of the same types of problems.

        • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
          6·
          9 days ago

          I must have heard the boots theory at least a decade ago on Slashdot and I thought it was great how it broke down the concept into something so brief, simple, and undeniably true.

          I can’t wait to get back to some Nights Watch stories, Guards, Guards has been my favorite story so far.

      • Nima@leminal.spaceEnglish
        5·
        9 days ago

        I love the watch series, honestly. its great when you need a break and his writing style is very funny 💕

        glad you enjoy it!

        • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
          5·
          9 days ago

          I’ve enjoyed all the POV characters so far, and I’m impressed how big and fleshed out the world is, and that all the characters feel so unique from each other, yet fit perfectly in the same world together.

          I was just thinking today as they were introducing the alchemists how well defined the different magic systems are and how they all disapprove of each other’s methods. Wizardry, sorcery, witch magic, demonology, and alchemy all feel so distinct and the competition feels the same as I see between scientists at my work and the people at the college my friend teaches at. It’s so satirical, but still feels grounded and I love his take on things like the function of pyramids getting twisted over the years. There’s just so much to enjoy.