From Paul Bannick
Cuban Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium siju)
A Cuban Pygmy-Owl pauses at his nest entrance with a gecko for his young, Like other Pygmy-Owls it typically nests in the cavities created by woodpeckers but unlike the Northern Pygmy-Owl it will also utilize nest boxes like the one featured in this photo.
This and the Bare Legged Owl are Cuba’s 2 native owls.
Though the largest owl ever known, the Cuban Giant Owl, used to live there as well, just the tiny ones remain today.
The Cuban Pygmy Owl is also known as the sijú, pronounced see-HOO. A very owlish name, but this owl doesn’t seem to make a hooting sound.
Ooo you taught me something new today!
For my fellow football/soccer ignorant USA-ians:
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 923 goals in his long, trophy-laden career. But since 2013, those goals have been followed a now infamous celebration called the Siuuu.
Ronaldo first did the celebration at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium in a preseason friendly against Chelsea. The then-Real Madrid forward made a darting run into the box and netted a header before running toward the corner flag, leaping into the air, planting his feet in a wide stance and thrusting his arms by his side.
He later incorporated a mid-air spin, displaying his famous name printed on the back of his shirt. Each time he does it, the crowd typically booms it’s famous accompliment … “Siuuu!”
Neat! I never would have gotten that in a million years :D
Yes, it’s a good pun once we know what it’s about, but as we’re the odd ones out on the non-hand egg kind of football we miss out. I figured I wasn’t the only one that would be a bit lost.
Ronaldo’s “Siu” is also pronounced “Sue”, so we got to learn some bits of a few languages today, as we got the Spanish for the owl, and I’m guessing Siu is Portuguese like Ronaldo.
I figured it might be an extremely hard to get reference, as the people understanding soccer/football references in a owl community on a IT dominated plattform will be far and few between.
But props to you for doing the research to understand a silly football pun on an owl’s name. (I added alt text to the gif, did that help you in your research?)
I only noticed the alt text after I found the context, but it was pretty easy. Not much shortage on Ronaldo coverage on the web as a whole. 😄