They don't call them Screech Owls for nothing!
They don't call them Screech Owls for nothing!
Pic from AARK Wildlife Rehab
One if this summer's Screech Owlets from their Facebook feed.
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Hey, an owl that is a subject of my interests. I don't suppose anyone knows in Nahuatl if "Chicuatli" refers to screech owl or a barn owl?
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I love when these threads start to different from just cute pictures!
The translation does seem to be pretty confusing. Looking at online Nahuatl dictionaries, some do call it a Barn Owl, while some a Screech Owl. So I looked thought, you can't get much more distinct than a tuftless, large, Barn Owl and a small, round, tufted Screech Owl, so let's look at some pictures!
I can't read this page, but some have definite tufts like a Screech Owl, then there's one that looks much more like a vulture, and then ones with facial discs like a Barn Owl.
With Spanish using lechuza for the Barn Owl and witch lady, I don't know if that further complicated things translating them into modern language.
One source also said the name was after the sound the bird made, but since I don't know how to pronounce chicuatli, that doesn't help me very much.
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So not only have been down that rabbit hole, but I'll raise you:
https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/chicuatli
If you look up the day birds in the Codex Borgia the sixth day bird "Chicuatli' has a white face (10 has a human skull so leave a bit of wiggle room for artist interpretation).
Edit: "but since I don’t know how to pronounce chicuatli" ~ Chee-kwat-lee
I study Aztec history for fun.
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Looks like a Muppet.
9 comments
Yes, it's because they want screetches.
Screeches love scritches!