this post was submitted on 11 Dec 2025
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Superbowl

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This pair of owls is a bit surprising to see here today. Both are fairly unknown, but yet they defeated some of the most well known owls of the world, the Barred and the Great Horned.

Sooty, the big blackish barn owl of Australia narrowly won in a tie breaker over the top owl of the Americas, GHO.

His mysterious and cosmic looks are going up against the tiny smoldering pinecone that is the Flamulated Owl. This mini but mighty resident of the Western North American custom point forests took on the Barred Owl without much challenge.

It's tree-like, yet glowing ember looks get the fire inside going for maybe of you.

Which of these grumpy hermits will you be sending to the next round? Upvote your choice below!

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[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 51 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)
[–] otter@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Flammies forever! 🥰❤️‍🔥🤩🤗

[–] Luvs2Spuj@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I've really been captivated by them this year ❤️‍🔥 such an owl!

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago

I love they have such fabulous flamming patterns, like an action star or daredevil, yet in every photo they look like they were just forced awake 😄

[–] quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

What is this thing? It looks like what the other owls puke.

Edit: I just looked the English word for it. Pellet? Really? With all the fancy words they love in science they settled with pellet? Here's a fancy word for just that egagrópila

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

Ooo that is a good word!

I always wondered why plumicorns, the proper sciencey name for the horns/ears of the horned owls, never caught on. It's one of my favorite owl things to teach people. Their faces always light up like I've said something magical. It's not like it's a hard word to say.

At first, I thought your comment was an insult that the Flamulated Owl looked like something the Sooty threw up! Then I thought about it more and realized it was the Flammy commenting on the inedible mouse.

I get jokes! 😅

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 42 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)
[–] dragonfly@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Sooty looks like a restless spirit that haunts a Victorian mansion. 🩶

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

It's fun seeing everyone's interpretations of who Sooty is to them!

[–] LordAmplifier@pawb.social 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The eyeshadow is beautiful and very stylish. I can't not vote for an owl like that.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

I like to think of it as a cosmic owl, dark like space, but filled with stars. I can't think of any owl like it.

[–] mad_lentil@lemmy.ca 7 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

So hard to choose... but that's a flammy for me, too.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago

They are 2 of my favorite oddball owls. It's such a hard choice for me, but I don't get a vote, so that helps.

[–] Regna@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

I absolutely love Sooty… but aaaah, between two such gorgeous birds… Flamulated…

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I had been secretly hoping for an upset in WF vs Shortie, as Shortie has been my second favorite owl this year after Barn Owl. Not a shocker though. I got a few good Short Ear posts in the pipe already, including the great Who Stole the Vole post today. They are my little battle potatoes, and I will always love them.

Flammy is currently in the lead here, and this winner will be the next to try and stop White Face. I know for me, either Sooty or Flammy stand a valid chance, but you guys seem strongly on WF's side still, so I dunno. What do you guys think at this point? You don't need to say if you'd already vote for White Faced or not over these guys, but I'm curious if they are seem by the community as the same tier of owl overall? Is WF vs Flammy or WF vs Sooty going to be one you think you'll need to worry about, or is it going to be something fairly one-sided of a battle?

[–] Luvs2Spuj@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I'm nervous about the next round. I'm team Flammy all the way but in so many rounds I've been on the losing side. I'm still unsure about this round, it could be another close one.

I don't think I have a good standing to say if Flammy is in the same tier, but for me I would like to see Flammy as this years winner.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

Flammy did well the first year, as far as my memory goes. I can't argue White Face is not one of the prettiest owls ever, but I'm hoping the desire to not repeat still wins out.

With the bracket how it is now, we could end up with the same final 4 again: White Face, Eurasian Eagle, Snowy, and Saw Whet. They're not any less superb than last year, but I hope we get to showcase a few new guys.

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Smoldering pinecone! Smoldering pinecone!

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

These analogies get challenging sometimes 😁