The genus name is Latin for a screech owl, the word came from the Ancient Greek aigōlios meaning “a bird of ill omen”. The specific epithet funereus is Latin meaning “funereal”.
Not a Screech, and how could you call that sweet thing an ill omen??
I didn’t find out anything more about the funeral part of the name, but the Aegolius genus is named after one of 4 guys that tried to steal honey from Zeus. They all got caught, but the lady from all the Justice statues in courthouses told Zeus the cave was sacred so he shouldn’t kill them there, so he turned them into birds. Aegolius got turned into an owl.
Yes, by elimination thanks for reading all your post on the owl tournament : C’est une Nyctale de Tengmalm.
Good work, us!
This guy didn’t luck out on his scientific name.
Not a Screech, and how could you call that sweet thing an ill omen??
Idk maybe, it would eat from bodies if not burried deep enough. I mean… Owls are beautiful and everything but they are dangerous animal after all.
I didn’t find out anything more about the funeral part of the name, but the Aegolius genus is named after one of 4 guys that tried to steal honey from Zeus. They all got caught, but the lady from all the Justice statues in courthouses told Zeus the cave was sacred so he shouldn’t kill them there, so he turned them into birds. Aegolius got turned into an owl.