Curious tree topper: owl brings a merry Christmas to the family!

Arlington (USA) - A "Christmas miracle" of the animal kind: an owl has fluttered into a house in the US state of Virginia and perched on the top of a Christmas tree. Just like Santa Claus himself, it came down the chimney!

As the animal welfare organization "Animal Welfare League of Arlington" announced on Facebook, the pygmy owl "snowed" by the family just a week before the Christmas holidays.

"He declared himself the newest star on top of the Christmas tree (if you look closely, you can see that he knocked over the old star to make room for himself)," the organization said.

In response, there were numerous comments under the post, including photos. Users found it hard to believe that the bird was actually real.

A short time later, animal rights activists published a video as proof.

The footage shows children laughing uproariously and the owl actually taking a seat in the tree. However, the owl could not stay until the festive season. An animal rights activist finally caught the Christmassy bird and released it back into the wild.