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[Davidion]

Ok, I thought was going to be insanely creepy. It, was, not, whatsoever.

You people need to relax, that owl was awesome.

And this is amazing.

 

[AVclub]

Transformer owl is awesome! So is that platypus/keytar diagram. :lol

 

[BlazingDarkness]

The second form is my favourite

 

[SmokyDave]

That was incredible. I love the way he followed them with his little glare. So menacing!

 

[Easy_D]

Transfowlers, more than meets the eye!

 

[Varion]

Transfowlers, more than meets the eye!

:lol

That owl is officially awesome.

 

[LFG]

love me some owls!

 

[LakeEarth]

It kinda looked like a cat when it did that, so maybe that's what its trying to mimic.

 

[Scorponok]

It kinda looked like a cat when it did that, so maybe that's what its trying to mimic.

Yeah, my thought as well. It looked like a cat in its third alt-form. No bird is gonna mess with a cat.

'cause if there's anything more evil than an evil owl, it's a common house cat.

 

[Levi]

Why are they taunting the nice Jedi owl and forcing him to turn to the dark side.

 

[Corky]

WHERE ARE THE GIFS?!!!!!!!!

RUUUUUUUUUUUUUN

 

[Degen]

The squint it did was absolutely hilarious. It's amazing that some animals know how to make themselves look so goofy.

 

[Cereal KiIIer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egzw2w25khU

OBLIGATORY

 

[AFKevin]

That owl is awesome. But I'd run so fast if i saw the evil version just chillin outside my window.

 

[Ferrio]

It kinda looked like a cat when it did that, so maybe that's what its trying to mimic.

No think it was trying to mimic a hawk/eagle.

 

[whitehawk]

Sorry for the bump, but wheere can I get this tshirt! It's so amazing.

 

[Battersea Power Station]

http://www.threadless.com/product/2396/Math

http://www.threadless.com/submission/276829/Math?streetteam=tenso

 

[Danneee]

That is one awesome bird. I didn't know that looking like the pet of some mad evil scientist/sorcerer was the owl equivalence to bright colors or poison fangs.

 

[AcridMeat]

 

[Stinkles]

It's kinda funny he made himself look thinner when the bigger owl was brought in. Maybe he was pretending to be a tree branch?
Oh and who's watching:

I think it's trying to look like a cat or other large predatory animal.

 

[Ignis Fatuus]

He was trying to make himself look like a hawk.

 

[G-Fex]

Ah so that owl is just like that one shape shifting Octopus .

If I had an owl I'd name him Doctor Who.

 

[Zeke]

that owl was bad ass. I wish we had more owls in my area ;(

 

[mysticwhip]

Definitely not clicking that link & I'm bailing the fuck out of this thread.

 

[Zeliard]

That. Was amazing. Reminded me of the mimic octopus.

Definitely not clicking that link & I'm bailing the fuck out of this thread.

You are making a mistake.

 

[Socreges]

Fucking awesome. Love the twitch/blink when he first spotted the owl, too.

That is one awesome bird. I didn't know that looking like the pet of some mad evil scientist/sorcerer was the owl equivalence to bright colors or poison fangs.

I really wonder why that is. Obviously the owl (as a species) needed to develop some kind of defense mechanism against larger animals that it frequently encounters, but it actually makes itself smaller. So what about its appearance would actually deter a larger owl? It's not trying to imitate a non-animal since it's obviously moving. I guess it just looks so crazy that no one would want to fuck with it and risk injury. :lol

By the way, Xelios, well played.

 

[GDGF]

Definitely not clicking that link & I'm bailing the fuck out of this thread.

The owl is awesome, no worries mate.

 

[mre]

Definitely not clicking that link & I'm bailing the fuck out of this thread.

Afraid of cats and owls? Congratulations, you may just be the biggest pussy on GAF.

 

[Olorin]

Awesome. So that's what Noctowl's third evolution will look like.

 

[DonMigs85]

Afraid of cats and owls? Congratulations, you may just be the biggest pussy on GAF.

miraclewhip has many irrational fears. Even if I was deathly afraid of an animal I wouldn't mind watching a video of it.

 

[Trent Strong]

Fucking awesome. Love the twitch/blink when he first spotted the owl, too.

I really wonder why that is. Obviously the owl (as a species) needed to develop some kind of defense mechanism against larger animals that it frequently encounters, but it actually makes itself smaller. So what about its appearance would actually deter a larger owl? It's not trying to imitate a non-animal since it's obviously moving. I guess it just looks so crazy that no one would want to fuck with it and risk injury. :lol

By the way, Xelios, well played.

This was exactly my question. The owl making himself look bigger makes sense, a lot of animals do that. But the second 'form' it takes doesn't seem to make any sense. How would it deter a big, threatening animal? I don't think animals have a concept of something being insane looking.

 

[DonMigs85]

This was exactly my question. The owl making himself look bigger makes sense, a lot of animals do that. But the second 'form' it takes doesn't seem to make any sense. How would it deter a big, threatening animal? I don't think animals have a concept of something being insane looking.

It's probaby trying to resemble a branch or something. Notice that it squints its eyes as well.

 

[SolidusDave]

Why is this the only gif of the owl so far and it's not even of the same video?
GAF, I am disappoint etc.

 

[Socreges]

I don't think animals have a concept of something being insane looking.

I didn't think so either. But then again, we're animals, too. Maybe things being freaky-looking isn't exclusive to us.

It's probaby trying to resemble a branch or something. Notice that it squints its eyes as well.

Yeah, but it pivots. Of course it wants to keep its eyes on the threat, but movement defeats the purpose of resembling something inanimate.

 

[DonMigs85]

Yeah, but it pivots. Of course it wants to keep its eyes on the threat, but movement defeats the purpose of resembling something inanimate.

Yeah, it's like that snake species that plays dead, but if you flip it rightside-up it gives the game away by trying to go belly-up again.

 

[Ignis Fatuus]

Again, it's trying to make itself look like a hawk. The thin body and the eyes are the indicators.

 

[DonMigs85]

Also cool is the owl butterfly:

 

[Dr. Acid Avatar]

It's eyebrows and overall facial expressions remind me of Johnny 5 for some reason.

 

[Leckan]

I certainly didn't expect that.

 

[Holepunch]

d'awww that was cute. Even "evil" owl was just the little puffball trying to look tough, with it's tiny scrunched head and awkward stance.

Certainly not a kill it with fire moment.

 

[Trent Strong]

Again, it's trying to make itself look like a hawk. The thin body and the eyes are the indicators.

Maybe it's trying to make itself looks sick or diseased, so that a bigger owl or another animal wouldn't want to go near it for fear of getting a disease.

 

[Starwolf_UK]

The owl is a Northern White-faced Owl. As for its defensive mechanism, to get a better understanding the best place to start is to look at some photographs in its natural environment. A few examples can be found among these photo galleries here and here (though they aren't as extreme as seen in the video).

From those pictures (and what wikipedia has to say), I have to agree that it is trying to look like a tree branch.

 

[Socreges]

Again, it's trying to make itself look like a hawk. The thin body and the eyes are the indicators.

Would a small hawk necessarily be any more of a deterrent than an owl of that size that makes itself look larger?

From those pictures (and what wikipedia has to say), I have to agree that it is trying to look like a tree branch.

Cool, if true. I don't understand why it was moving then.

[edit] You could say that it's trying to keep the same angle toward the threat, but moving around seems like more of a risk.

 

[abstract alien]

:lol