Closed - OotY Round 28 - Saw Whet (44) vs Screech (46)

This is the last match to determine our final contender for the semi-finals. Over in the other ring, the big fellas are slugging it out. But now it's time for the little guys to do their high flying luchador battle royale over here.

Both owls in this match are some of the smallest and sweetest ones North America has to offer. Saw Whet is our returning champion and is looking to hold onto that title for another year. Even smaller than the Screech, Saw Whet is round but sleek, a mini but mighty mouse murderer, has a great range of expressions from shocked and startled to don't you dare, and has a namesake call that rivals the cuteness of the Screeches horse whinny.

Screech Owl is finally close to getting its due respect in these games, and wants to seal the deal by taking down the biggest little guy in the yard. For many of us, the Screech was the first to show us just how cute an owl can be. Everyone loves seeing one, everyone loves hearing one. They're round and squishy, big beautiful yellow eyes, sing quietly and gently, pert and perfect plumicorns, and look just as cute hanging on a branch or popping their head out of a woodpecker hole that looks too small for them to fit through.

These are both such cute owls with such dedicated followings. I'm sure everyone here loves both so much. But we're at the point we've got to send one ahead, and tell the other better luck next year. Which tiny titan gets your upvote?