From Kevan Little

She has to be one of the prettiest Barn Owls I’ve ever had the pleasure of photographing, she was absolutely stunning 🤔😍👍

  • tomiant@piefed.socialBannedEnglish
    4·
    3 個月前

    Ooh, this one is under protection of Athena herself! You can tell by the glitter.

    By the way I wonder if that plumage helps with hunting during snowfall. All a rodent would see is a white underbelly against a gray or white sky filled with snowflakes, and it’s all tiny speckles of dark to trick the eye.

    Just a musing.

    • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
      4·
      3 個月前

      I have a great article for you!

      …his team’s latest research suggests instead that the barn owl’s brilliant white plumage is in fact a form of nocturnal camouflage or counter-illumination that gives the hunter an element of surprise.

      Barn owl’s feathers match the moonlight The bird’s white reflective underside effectively mimics moonlight, according to the new study describing the team’s findings that published in the journal PNAS on Monday. The bright plumage allows its silhouette to blend into the nocturnal sky and makes it harder for mice or other rodents to spot the owl.

      • tomiant@piefed.socialBannedEnglish
        2·
        3 個月前

        Ha! Yeah I kind of figured, evolution makes strange colors and patterns usually either to help with predation or with mating. I mean it is a very handsome owl, I would take it out for dinner, but in this case I think the plumage helps pay for dinner on its own.

        • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
          2·
          3 個月前

          It certainly doesn’t look like the type of owl that needs help getting a date. Hubba hubba!