Eurasian Eagle Owl has already taken down the even bigger Blakiston's Fish Owl, and the tiny but adorable Flammulated Owl. Now it's got its eyes on a medium sized one: the Morepork! This robust and mighty owl is hard not to like. It's got much of the same great qualities of the Great Horned: massive, well patterned body, crushing talons rivaling the largest flighted birds, and a wonderful hoot.
Morepork has thus far only taken on other Southern Hemisphere owls, having stopped Australia's Barking Owl and Africa's Milky Eagle Owl. Representing the island nation of New Zealand and the fandom of Discworld, Morepork has had a great fan base this year. It even picked up some vegan support, running on it's meatless Maori name, Ruru. Will this silly little hawk owl be able to deal with the Eagle Owl?
Who will be the second banner owl and our next semi-finalist? Upvote your choice below!
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I normally just look at the pretty pictures but im reallllyy curious how the name more pork came to be.
Oh, this one is easy! It is the English onomontapeia for their call. The Maori heard "ruru" and the Brits heard "more pork."
Morepork / Ruru Call
Let me know what you think!
I mean I can hear it but its not so in your face that I would think about naming it that.
Have you tried listening to it after taking your ration of Navy strength rum? 😁
good point. I could see a bunch of men drinking to excess in the woods naming it that from the call. I can just imagine the conversation that would lead to it.
What's the point of colonizing if you don't get to rename all the things that have already been named for thousands of years? /s
Morepork is a fun name for the weirdness factor, but Ruru sounds more accurate and is a cuter name IMO.