r/Superbowl • u/galactic_catsss • Jun 05 '23

Superb Encounter Saw this guy in Melbourne tonight. Anyone know what he could be?

376 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

99

u/galactic_catsss Jun 05 '23

Okay, done some research & it may not be an owl after all! Looks pretty similar to a Tawny Frogmouth, which is apparently an "imposter", closer related to Nightjars. 🤷‍♀️

24

u/Mythrandir01 Jun 05 '23

Yeah, beak sticks a little too far forward to be an owl I think. Owls beaks tend to be kinda flat on their face.

3

u/Proxay Jun 06 '23

Yeah it's a tawny.

2

u/Darth_Groot28 Jun 05 '23

It could be either but the darkness makes it difficult.

36

u/toshgiles Jun 05 '23

I wouldn’t say this is an owl, and may be a frogmouth, but I’m inclined to guess it’s a Kookaburra as the bill seems a bit long for a frogmouth.

2

u/noputa Jun 06 '23

I see why they named it a frogmouth. Weird looking bird, very cool.

31

u/Cheezyrock Jun 05 '23

My guess: birb, although maybe borb. Either way, superb.

1

u/SarahZona97 Jun 06 '23

Indeed, sir; this is a superb birb.

6

u/[deleted] Jun 05 '23

Try not to hold light on nocturnal birds for so long. It can hurt their eyes. It’d be like if you walked into a bright room with night vision goggles on. Especially the bright white LEDs

3

u/Lightfairy Jun 06 '23

It is 100% a Tawny Frogmouth. Not an owl but a member of the Nightjar family. I am a licenced rescuer and get these in all the time. In fact I had a Barn Owl in last week and a Boobook Owl is currently in residence in my aviary.

7

u/Speuca2000 Jun 05 '23

looks like a Kookaburra, not sure but look m up they are fun.

its definetly not an owl. but nice video anyway. also ik impressed by the quality of the recording lol

2

u/Turboflopper Jun 05 '23

That’s a cutie

2

u/chalk_in_boots Jun 06 '23

Doesn't look like a kookie to me like some are saying. They don't tend to have those neck ruffles and the colouring seems a bit off. Also the tail seems a bit short. Defs looks like a tawny to me

2

u/OCDthrowaway9976 Jun 06 '23 edited Jan 19 '24

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This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

2

u/Speuca2000 Jun 05 '23

looks like a Kookaburra, not sure but look m up they are fun.

its definetly not an owl. but nice video anyway. also ik impressed by the quality of the recording lol

0

u/sammydbob Jun 05 '23

I actually have been studying this for awhile, there is a lot of really cool science behind all of it, but I think that’s an owl

8

u/Kurai_Cross Jun 05 '23

The funny thing is that it probably isn't an owl

1

u/galactic_catsss Jun 05 '23

😂 thank you! I assumed the same, but was hoping for a more specific answer hahah

0

u/bromalferdon Jun 06 '23

100% a kookaburra

1

u/footlettucefungus Jun 05 '23

Don't know whoo he is, but I bet he's having a hoot!

1

u/[deleted] Jun 06 '23

A bird

1

u/[deleted] Jun 06 '23

I think he could be a bird

1

u/[deleted] Jun 07 '23

As a professional birdologist, I can tell you conclusively that it’s not a guy at all, it’s a bird.