Great horned owl near Lake Tohopekaliga, Florida, USA
© Matthew Studebaker/Minden Pictures
Great horned owl near Lake Tohopekaliga, Florida, USA
No, those aren’t really horns on the great horned owl, shown here blending in nicely with its surroundings in Central Florida. The distinctive tufts of feathers on top of its head are known as ‘plumicorns’. They have nothing to do with hearing – instead, they’re thought to be used to show expression and for camouflage. The bird’s nickname is the ‘tiger owl’, which comes from early naturalists who described this stealthy predator as a ‘tiger of the air’.
Related Images
Today on Bing
Sperm whale pod surfacing, Dominica
Feb 18, 2024
Eben Ice Caves, Upper Peninsula, Michigan
Feb 18, 2023
Great tits on a branch during winter
Feb 18, 2022
An aerial view of Alum Bay on the Isle of Wight
Feb 18, 2019