Warwick Castle has given locals a first look at the brand new baby owl which has joined the birds of prey team.

The castle has also offered its social media followers the chance to name the latest addition.

The adorably fluffy bird will be hand-reared by Warwick Castle's team of expert falconers, and learn the ropes before joining the full show.

The five-week-old male is a Verreaux's Eagle Owl, more commonly known as a Milky Eagle Owl, originating from Africa.

Supported by these professionals, the bird will undergo careful training throughout the winter, ready to join the line up of birds in the UK's largest birds of prey show, The Falconer's Quest, in 2024.

Warwick Castle is celebrating the news with a social media competition to name the latest addition, where entrants can win the opportunity to meet the baby owl, and its expert handler, plus day tickets for four people to enjoy The Falconer's Quest birds of prey show.

The owl will join the birds of prey show next year (image via White Tiger PR)

While its fluffy appearance is hard to ignore at the moment, its most distinctive feature is its pink eyelids, which no other owl in the world has.

It will grow up to be up to 66cm in length, making it the largest owl species from Africa.

Liam Bartlett, general manager at Warwick Castle, said: "We are so excited to share the news of our newest baby owl here at Warwick Castle, and we are thrilled to be offering one lucky person the opportunity to name it, and the chance to meet it here at the castle with one of our handlers."

"We know the bird will be in safe hands with our team of expert falconers, who will be taking extra special care of the baby and hand-rearing it as it grows up.

"The welfare of all of our animals is of the utmost importance to us, so that we can continue to deliver our fantastic birds of prey show and inspire our guests in years to come."

Warwick Castle's social media competition to name and meet the new owl runs until Monday 2 October and can be entered here.