mochuelo

little owl

noun moh-CHWEH-loh Rare

Usage Note

Mochuelo specifically denotes Athene noctua, the little owl common across Europe and North Africa. In colloquial speech, cargar con el mochuelo means to get stuck with an unpleasant task or responsibility — the equivalent of drawing the short straw. The masculine gender is standard for bird species regardless of the individual's sex.

Examples

"El mochuelo posó en la rama del árbol."

Natural Translation

The little owl perched on the tree branch.

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