Here’s an unlikely duo. We’ve got Africa’s largest owl, and we’ve got one of the northern hemisphere’s smallest. One is traditionally adorable, and the other has a one of a kind look. Let’s get to know them a bit better!

Milky Eagle Owl (this seems to be the leading name since birding groups have been working to change out names based on people), also known as Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, is one large and unique owl. Coming in around 26 inches / 66 cm, this gray and white owl with bright pink eyelids stalks the African savannah.

This owl is genetically unique with no known subspecies, and the closest relatives seem to be the Spot Bellied Eagle Owl and the Barred Eagle Owl and then the Ketupa fish owls. None of these seem particularly closely related though, so there are still many questions about Milky’s true origins.

The Milky has the deepest voice of any owl, and one of the deepest voices of any birds, making a very deep grunt.

They have one of the most diverse diets of any owl, which as opportunistic animals is already very diverse. Their diet rubs a range from 5 gram insects up to 22 pound /10 kg mammals. They will even go after multiple types of primates. Milky doesn’t care. If it’s food, it’s getting eaten!

The Little Owl, sometimes known as the owl of Athena, pops up throughout history, from Greek legend to bring famous companions of Picasso and Florence Nightingale.

From temperate Europe, North Africa, ask the way to Korea, a big chunk of the world gets to admit the antics of this small and adorable owl. This owl thrives near people, enjoying the clearings we make for orchards and farms, as they like to live in the woods but hunt in the open. It enjoys insects, worms, and small vertebrates.

This is a very round and petite owl, with a flat head and short tail. It is similar to its cousin the Burrowing Owl, but this owl lives in trees and rocky outcroppings. It is partially diurnal, making it an owl that can be enjoyed during the daytime.

This owl has been put on coins, pottery, paintings, and just about everything else since ancient times to the current day, and was even a trendy pet and cottage hunting companion for a time (owls aren’t good pets) and people have introduced them to territories as far as New Zealand as they moved across the globe.

Is the Little Owl big enough to get a win, or do you like your owls big and proud of their unusual looks? It’s tough to get more extreme opposites than these two, so perhaps today’s choice may be easier than some of the others we’ve had recently. Upvote your favorite now!