Closed - OotY Round 12 - Crested (44) vs Ashy Faced (28)

The Crested Owl is from Central and South American rainforests. This reclusive nocturnal owl cones in a darker and a lighter version. The darker ones are a rich chocolate color while the lighter ones are more reddish brown.

They mostly eat insects, but recent observations tell of them raiding groups of bats.

They are also said to have a frog-like call.

Due to their remoteness, not much else is known about them.

Oh! You may notice they have eyebrows. I almost forgot that...

The Ashy Faced Owl lives in the Caribbean, on Hispaniola and a few other islands.

There has been some difficulty getting this owl classified. It was originally a subspecies of Western Barn Owl (Tyto alba), then it became a monotypic species, and in 2023, 2 subspecies of American Barn Owl got reclassified as subspecies of the Ashy Faced Owl.

The Ashy looks similar to many other common Barn Owls, but with a dark face and buffer undersides and darker wings.

It is adapted to many ecosystems on the islands. Thick forest, sparse forest, farmland, or palm plantations can all support Ashy Faced Owls.

Ashy eats a wide variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.

They are also much less particular about nesting sites than typical barn owls, likely due to the more limited space of being on islands.

Will the outrageously dressed jungle dweller turn you into a wild Crested supporter, or have you been looking for a Tyto of a different color that enjoys island life? Show us your votes now!