The Barn Owl may be a pinnacle of owl evolution. They may be the peak predator of rodents by it’s mass vs the amount of rodents it eats. They have a very high metabolism that must be filled by meat. What do they do with all that energy? Fly! If it’s possible for an owl to exist anywhere, there will be some variety of Barn Owl there. These winged wonders can migrate up to 1000 km / 600 miles, taking them to near every land mass. Experiments with Barn Owls in the 70s finally lead to the understanding of most owls ability to use sound to find prey in total darkness with extreme accuracy.
The Boreal Owl (Tengmalm’s Owl in Europe) is rarely seen by humans, staying far north in inaccessible taiga of North America and Eurasia. Its closest relatives are the diminutive Saw Whet and the Buff Fronted Owl. They have at least 8 types of vocalizations, making them hard to track. Despite being small, this owl eats more birds and mammals than many small owls do. They frequently look to have a surprised expression, making them very fun to see.
Does the sleek and svelte Barn Owl or the bashful Boreal get today’s upvote?
This is one of those matches that before I actually make the post, I feel I know who will win. But by the time I line them up side by side in front of me, it becomes obvious the choice is much harder when you’re actually at the moment where you need to decide.