this post was submitted on 19 Dec 2024
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Superbowl

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For owls that are superb.

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WINNER: Saw Whet 70-67 - Owl of the Year Round 29 - White Faced Scops vs Saw Whet (lemmy.world)
submitted 5 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by anon6789@lemmy.world to c/superbowl@lemmy.world
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White Faced Scops walked into this tournament like a true champion, and none of its competition has yet to present much of a challenge. This owl just looks good. It's got the ears, it's got a prominent mustache, captivating orange eyes, and a trendy monochromatic color scheme. He's so far untouchable, but we've got a tiny owl coming in for a sneak attack!

The wee Saw Whet has been very accomplished these last two weeks. It's taken on the Barred Owl, the pescatarian Buffy Fish Owl, and it just out-greated the Great Horned Owl. This itty bitty owl has shown it's got big, big heart. It's small, it's expressive, it's got a lot of unique looks, and it's uncommon, but not as exotic to most of us as the Scops.

Will the Scops march unopposed to the finals, or has it finally met its match? Will the Saw Whet's winning streak keep going? I dunno, that's what you guys are here to tell me! Upvote your choice for the finals now!

#superbowl #owloftheyear2024

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[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 71 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

Saw Whet Owl

[–] casmael@lemm.ee 8 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Man that last picture is incredible

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 6 points 5 days ago

Agreed. So many wonderful colors, and a sweet expression on the owl.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 68 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (2 children)

White Faced Scops

[–] sxan@midwest.social 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

whispers
It's Ok, Scopes. You'll always be my favorite.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

You can narrow it down to only one???

[–] sxan@midwest.social 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Yes. And it's all thanks to you. I didn't have one before superbowl.

White-Faced Scopes has got it all going on: really interesting, symmetrical, distinctive face patterns; prominent riktal bristles; prominent ear tufts; amazingly colored eyes; wonderful feather colors; and it's adorably tiny. Other owls may dominate in individual categories - GHO has bigger ear tufts, Snowy has shockingly beautiful (if monochromatic) coloring, Saw Whet is even more adorably tiny - but WF Scopes has all of these attractive traits in spades.

So: yes. I can narrow it down to one, and it's for me really not hard. I haven't yet seen a WFS picture I didn't think was an incredible creature.

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

I'm glad I helped you find your perfect owl then! I do agree with all those great characteristics.

I want to see one in person at some point, but all the ones I can find are in the UK (or Africa, of course).

I get a few updates on WFS from Owl Rescue Center in South Africa, but I hope to get some more international rescues in my list in the coming year, so I hope to see many more beautiful Scops!

[–] sxan@midwest.social 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Look at those eyebrows! It's the whole package - truly the goat of owls.

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

I just found out we have a wedding to go to in the Bronx next year, and just when I was replying to you earlier I was looking who in the tri-state area had a WFS, and the Bronx Zoo was one of them!

I hope to see that little guy!

The National Aviary I visited early this year got a new one this fall as well, but that is further away.

Gotta get me some Scops!

[–] sxan@midwest.social 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Lucky! I need to check if there are any kept in The Cities

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

Do it! Chase your dreams!

[–] pseudo@jlai.lu 12 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Every time OP finds new pictures and every time I'm in awe...

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 9 points 5 days ago

The pressure is always on to top my last effort! Thankfully they are all so beautiful to begin with.

[–] flughoernchen@feddit.org 14 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Now that's a tough match. It's the first time it's really hard to decide for me.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago

It was always just a matter of when! And the biggest match is still left after this.

[–] sxan@midwest.social 10 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Dammit. I new this day would come.

it's got a prominent mustache

"Riktal bristles." 😉

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 7 points 5 days ago

I've finally reached these keeeeds!

[–] maniclucky@lemmy.world 7 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Hard matchup. Only thing that would make it better is for the pictures to be switched so that they're staring each other down a la boxers.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 6 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Good call. I did that on the Snowy/Eagle one.

I changed it. Much better!

[–] kaida@feddit.org 6 points 5 days ago

Now they are even cuter

[–] kaida@feddit.org 6 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Oh no, don‘t do this to me

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 5 points 5 days ago

You did it to yourselves! 😜

It does get irrationally difficult.

[–] pseudo@jlai.lu 5 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

When I look at both of them, I got the feeling they are equally beautiful but still my heart has a favorite and I cannot do anything about it...
Comme on dit : le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ignore.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I like that expression! ❤️

[–] pseudo@jlai.lu 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I love premade expression. Unfortunatly, they cannot be easily translated.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

This one wasn't too bad compared to others. With the key words I think it's straightforward enough to get an appropriate meaning in English.

[–] onigiri@lemm.ee 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

This is such a close match! C’mon little Saw Whet, you got this. ❤️

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

Both have been back and forth all day, it's so nerve wracking!