Barn Owl, ‘Swoop’ (Douglas Cuddle Toys)

Review and images by Fembrogon; edited by bmathison1972

If you were to ask me what my favorite owl species was, I think I could safely say the barn owl is my pick. The most famous and widespread of species under the Tyto genus, Tyto alba is iconic for its striking plumage, silent flight, and piercing cry – earning it the nickname “ghost owl”. Despite its spooky reputation, the barn owl is highly deserving of respect for its hunting prowess and beautiful appearance. T. alba is a magnificent and successful bird of prey, without a doubt.

Naturally, despite its beauty, trying to hug a wild owl would not considered a wise or considerate venture; thankfully, for those of us who might still crave cuddling an elite nocturnal predator, Douglas Cuddle Toys has provided a perfectly safe alternate with their plush toy, “Swoop” the barn owl. Douglas Co. has been active as a company since 1956, and have established themselves as a reliable and high-quality producer of stuffed animals and other family-friendly merchandise. Released as a seasonal Halloween item, according to her categorization on Douglas’s main website, Swoop is intended as a realistic but adorable item for education and affection alike.

Swoop the barn owl measures 27 cm (10.5 in) tall from head to toe, and about 29 cm (11.5 in) long from head to tail – a little smaller than an average live barn owl of 33-39 cm (13-15 in) in length. Body proportions are good, with a large, rounded head and heart-shaped facial disk with two large plastic amber eyes (albeit obscured somewhat by the “feathers”). The body is posed upright with folded wings and a stubby “tail”, weighed down by bean pellets to ensure the toy’s balance. The wings are, of course, single flaps creating the illusion of fully-folded wings; but they stretch the length of the body and past the base of the tail, indicating appropriately-large wings for flight if stretched out. The feet are one area where more dramatic stylization has taken place, with stubby toes and mere black ink spots to represent talons. This is an understandable compromise, though, for an all-ages stuffed toy.

Swoop is, make no mistake, extremely soft and huggable. The body is filled with foam that is very squishable, but fully retains form. The polyester fibers making up most of the feathery coat are very fine, but feel like they can hold up to wear and tear, so the toy can withstand substantial handling as its owner makes the most of their fluffy feathered friend. The fabric used on the beak and feet is also quite soft, and the short fibers used to coat the undersides of the wings are similarly silky to the touch.

Swoop is colored fairly simply, with the expected pure white across face, chest, and undersides; the wings and back are colored in light and dark variations of cappuccino brown, and the beak and feet are a light cream. Although barn owls often display a more complex pattern of golden-brown and gray mottling, there are enough examples of color morphs for Swoop’s simpler color scheme to be reasonable. A certain level of light and dark patterning is still apparent in the soft fibers along the wings and tail, to break up the monotony of the colors.

Swoop the barn owl is a fine rendition of a fine bird of prey; collectors and kids alike will appreciate having this soft & cuddly take on the master predator accessible, be it on the shelf or at the bedside. Currently Swoop is listed as out of stock on her product page at the Douglas Co. main site; however it should still be available through Amazon and other retailers without difficulty.