Both animals have big eyes for nocturnal hunting, fancy themselves a feast of mice, and are stealthier than ninjas... but this right here proves they are essentially the same critter except for fur and feathers:

STOP STARING AT THE LIGHTBOX, HOOMAN!

PAY ATTENTION TO MEEE!

WHAT IS YOU DOING??

Side note: I just want to point out that this dude is a middle-aged British-looking guy with brown hair and rimmed glasses... and an owl.

He also doesn't show us the front of his face...

So I'm not telling you to draw conclusions, but...