Santa Hoo? ‘Magestic’ Owl Flies Down Chimney and Perches on Top of Christmas Tree [Video]

One lucky family got a hoot of a tree topper this Christmas!

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington (AWLA) revealed on social media that one of their officers was recently called in to carefully remove an owl that made itself at home on top of a Christmas tree.

“Twas the week before Christmas, and perched on the tree was an unexpected visitor as majestic as can be! 🎄,” the AWLA wrote alongside a pair of photos of the bird.

The organization jokingly noted that the creature — which they identified as a barred owl — “decided to play Santa” and dropped in through the chimney of a “local home” in Arlington, Va. The bird then flew over to the top of the tree, knocked over the existing star and “declared himself the newest star on top of their Christmas tree.”

An AWLA officer went to the home and “gently” captured the owl before safely releasing it back into the wild.

The …