Photo by jun mio

This little fellow was currently formely classified in the same genus as our own from earlier today, the Bare-legged Owl. It is now the only known survivor of the Gymnasio genus. The other sub species was in the Virgin Islands, but nobody has seen any since 1995.

It’s scientific name nudipes means bare-footed. It is less related genetically to the Cuban Screech Owls from this morning, and most closely related to the Flammulated Owl, a North American migratory owl. A couple must have taken a wrong turn way back when.