Total Pro Sports
Every February, the internet fills with a strange yet familiar phrase: “Superb Owl.” If you’ve never heard of it, you might assume it’s an elegant bird reference- and you wouldn’t be wrong. What started as a typo has become a full-fledged internet phenomenon, turning Super Bowl weekend into an unexpected celebration of owls.
Here’s how a misplaced space gave birth to a quirky tradition.
It all began in 2008 when Twitter user @shawnw tweeted, “Superb Owl party tonight!”– an innocent typo, or perhaps a clever joke. At the time, it barely made a ripple, garnering just three likes and two retweets. But the seed was planted.
By 2011, the subreddit /r/Superbowl emerged, entirely dedicated to owls. The rules were simple: only owl-related content, 24/7. What started as a small joke quickly gained traction. Today, the subreddit boasts over 400,000 members, featuring owl pictures, carvings, and heated debates about these majestic birds. The joke had evolved into an outright celebration.
I saw this hashtag and wanted to share this superb owl
pic.twitter.com/PRGpXgUmB9
— Hahn (@Hahn) February 3, 2019
Then, in 2014, Stephen Colbert catapulted “Superb Owl” into mainstream attention. Facing the NFL’s strict rules on using “Super Bowl” on The Colbert Report, he cleverly sidestepped legal issues by embracing the typo. “I believe we can cover the story like nobody else simply by moving one consonant in the title,” he quipped. The segment featured Colbert in football gear, majestic owl footage, and a hilarious rebranding of sports coverage. His parody cemented “Superb Owl” in pop culture.
Why does this silly phrase persist? Because it’s absurd- and that’s the charm. In an era where internet culture thrives on irony, “Superb Owl” is the perfect blend of humor and randomness. Some use it as a playful counter to the Super Bowl’s extravagance; others enjoy spamming social media with owl pictures. Either way, the internet embraces the absurdity.
Owls themselves contribute to the trend. Unlike everyday birds, they are elusive, mysterious, and captivating. Spotting one in real life feels rare and special, making it the perfect subject for a niche celebration. “Superb Owl” is like a tiny rebellion against football’s grand spectacle, transforming a massive sports event into something unexpectedly intimate.
A superb owl for Super Bowl Sunday. 🦉🏈 A little typo has turned into a bit of a ‘thing’ on the Internet in recent years so here is my contribution. Harkening back to one year ago. #owl #longearedowl #superbowl #birding #wildlife #wildlifephotography #Colorado #GetOutside pic.twitter.com/EmLqVRbnMh
— Tony's Takes (@TonysTakes) February 11, 2024
Nature and wildlife enthusiasts have also seized the opportunity. Organizations like NPR, National Geographic, Audubon, and the Sierra Club use “Superb Owl Sunday” to promote conservation and education. It’s an environmental awareness campaign disguised as a meme, proving that even internet humor can have a real-world impact.
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