Photo Feature
Collared Scops-Owl
<p><strong>Collared Scops-Owl:</strong> <em>Just another weirdly-shaped branch?</em></p>
<p>At first glance, this Collared Scops-Owl <em>Otus lettia</em>, photographed in the Little Rann of Kutchh, Gujarat, is indistinguishable from the branch upon which it is perched. The raised ear tufts do not aid in hearing, but are used to communicate! Ornithologists suggest that some owl species use ear tuft posture, or movement, to signal to hunting partners and mates about potential threats. As is apparent here, ear tufts also help to break up the owl-like shape of the body, giving the impression of a broken tree branch! Good birders know better than to approach such birds too close as this calls attention to them and causes them to be flushed from carefully chosen hiding places.</p>