this post was submitted on 01 Dec 2025
118 points (99.2% liked)

Superbowl

5237 readers
472 users here now

For owls that are superb.

Community Rules:

Posts must be about owls. Especially appreciated are photographs (not AI) and scientific content, but artwork, articles, news stories, personal experiences and more are welcome too.

Be kind. If a post or comment bothers you, or strikes you as offensive in any way, please report it and moderators will take appropriate action.

AI is discouraged. If you feel strongly that the community would benefit from a post that involves AI you may submit it, but it might be removed if the moderators feel that it is low-effort or irrelevant.

US Wild Animal Rescue Database: Animal Help Now

International Wildlife Rescues: RescueShelter.com

Australia Rescue Help: WIRES

Germany-Austria-Switzerland-Italy Wild Bird Rescue: wildvogelhilfe.org

If you find an injured owl:

Note your exact location so the owl can be released back where it came from. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitation specialist to get correct advice and immediate assistance.

Minimize stress for the owl. If you can catch it, toss a towel or sweater over it and get it in a cardboard box or pet carrier. It should have room to be comfortable but not so much it can panic and injure itself. If you can’t catch it, keep people and animals away until help can come.

Do not give food or water! If you feed them the wrong thing or give them water improperly, you can accidentally kill them. It can also cause problems if they require anesthesia once help arrives, complicating procedures and costing valuable time.

If it is a baby owl, and it looks safe and uninjured, leave it be. Time on the ground is part of their growing up. They can fly to some extent and climb trees. If animals or people are nearby, put it up on a branch so it’s safe. If it’s injured, follow the above advice.

For more detailed help, see the OwlPages Rescue page.

Also visit our twinned community for wholesome content:

!wholesome@reddthat.com

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Welcome to the start of the 2025 Owl of the Year!

We've gathered a wide array of owls from around the world to compete to see who rules the roost for the next year. From the largest to some of the smallest, from angelic white to killer camo or wild patterns, and from those that hunt butterflies all the way up to some small wild cats. Whatever you think is amazing or crazy, we've got the owl for you here.

The rules are as simple as before - upvote the owl you like and the highest score after about 24 hours wins and goes on to the next round. Vote for one, none, or both. In a tie, I find someone to cast a tie breaker, usually Mrs 6789. When the dust settles, one owl will be crowned Owl of the Year and become the face of the group for the next year.

All that said, let's get this thing going!

We're starting off with our first ever OotY winner, White Faced Owl! This is one charming owl! It's got some great coloration, one of the most fabulous moustaches, and is probably the cutest owl out of Africa

This small owl hunts the savannah, mainly looking for insects to much on, though it will step up to birds or small mammals if they get up their appetite.

Taking on the challenge of being the first to step up to White Face is another small and uniquely colored owl that may be new to you, the Buff Fronted Owl.

Also from south of the equator, this time from South America, Buff Fronted sports golden feathers and a black mask, striking a very distinctive look. It's found all over the continent in dry forest, palm groves, fruit plantations, or rainforest.

A lot about this owl remains a mystery, but that only adds to its intrigue. Can this masked mini steal your vote today?

Lets see those votes and start this year's games off right!

#owloftheyear2025 #superbowl

top 23 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] dragonfly@lemmy.world 7 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

My Buff Orpington hen says "Go Team Buff!"

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Love the hen, but I thought that clump of leaves behind her was a Screech Owl at first glance! 😄

[–] dragonfly@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

I'd be super excited to see a screech in person, ngl.

[–] loweffortname@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

If it's not too late to vote, I have been told to vote White-Faced.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago

You're good to vote still. Voting runs approximately 24 hours until I put up the next rounds. At that point, I change the title to Closed and post the final scores. Weekends it's a little looser based on when I actually wake up 😁

Just upvote for the owl or owls that you think are tops!

[–] quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

The brown corduroy jacket looks classier than the grey tracksuit. Buffy for me.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

I love all the different tales you guys have on this match. This is way closer an opening round than I had expected.

[–] piwakawakas@lemmy.nz 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I'm going to have to go with the white faced owl

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago

This is the one every other owl in this game needs to worry about. It has a very rabid fan base here! Not unbeatable, but it takes a lot.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 49 points 1 week ago

White Faced

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 35 points 1 week ago (2 children)
[–] GrantUsEyes@lemmy.zip 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Sorry white face, ur cute... but the aura here is undeniable.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

This is off to a very surprising start for me! 😮

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Wow - in a shocking upset it's Buffy over WFS!

Coming into the contest, the Buff Fronted was virtually unknown, and still remains a mystery! And of course the WFS has a great program that usually sweeps the first few contenders, but not today!

Superbowl fans say the smoky eye and added mystery of Buffy gave it that extra edge that anyone up against WFS needs to have if they're going anywhere other than the locker room!

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Buff just barely squeaked into the tournament, so seeing it pull ahead early is a real accomplishment, if it can hold onto that lead or not.

This is why you gotta check out every match... Anything can and will happen and no Owl gets a free ride!

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Looks like WFS catching up in the second half

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago

At least it had to earn it! I felt it got off too easy for most of last year.

[–] RagnarokOnline@programming.dev 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

White faced are just so charismatic.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago

They do feel designed to win a beauty contest, it's no wonder it was the first winner and continues to do so well.

That said, Buff Fronted is putting up a good resistance despite being a longshot. I think I find some really competitive photos and I love the green eye highlights in the first image. That send very unique.

[–] teft@piefed.social 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

White faced.

The other guy looks like his mascara is running.

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

Aww. I think the mask is striking and I like the head shadow that reminds me of the Saw Whet but with that great golden buff coloration like in the chest of the Spectacled Owl in the other game today.

Like the Long Ear that I feel is constantly underrated here, I just don't get why this guy isn't more popular. Better overall than a White Face? That is a much tougher question.

[–] teft@piefed.social 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Actual picture i found of Patsy “Buff faced” Stone during one of her benders: