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Vittoria, Ontario. Can you find the owl? The eastern screech owl's plumage is designed to make it invisible, and even at close range, it does its job.
The eastern screech owl is small and can be very difficult to see. This image shows the same species as the previous portrait, but from a different angle that emphasizes the camouflage. The grey-brown bark-like pattern of the feathers blends with natural backgrounds so effectively that these small owls can roost in plain sight without being noticed. Predators — and prey — look right past them.
The camouflage works on multiple levels. The colours match tree bark. The feather patterns break up the owl's outline, making it harder to recognize as a bird-shaped form. And the owls enhance the effect behaviourally, pressing close to tree trunks and elongating their bodies to look more like broken branches than birds.
Eastern screech owls have two colour morphs — grey and reddish. This grey individual would be particularly difficult to spot against grey bark. The red morph would blend better with reddish wood. Both morphs occur in the same populations, suggesting the diversity itself provides advantage.
Limited edition Chromaluxe metal print. Matte finish essential for preserving the subtle camouflage pattern.
Vittoria, Ontario. Can you find the owl? The eastern screech owl's plumage is designed to make it invisible, and even at close range, it does its job.
The eastern screech owl is small and can be very difficult to see. This image shows the same species as the previous portrait, but from a different angle that emphasizes the camouflage. The grey-brown bark-like pattern of the feathers blends with natural backgrounds so effectively that these small owls can roost in plain sight without being noticed. Predators — and prey — look right past them.
The camouflage works on multiple levels. The colours match tree bark. The feather patterns break up the owl's outline, making it harder to recognize as a bird-shaped form. And the owls enhance the effect behaviourally, pressing close to tree trunks and elongating their bodies to look more like broken branches than birds.
Eastern screech owls have two colour morphs — grey and reddish. This grey individual would be particularly difficult to spot against grey bark. The red morph would blend better with reddish wood. Both morphs occur in the same populations, suggesting the diversity itself provides advantage.
Limited edition Chromaluxe metal print. Matte finish essential for preserving the subtle camouflage pattern.
