Barn Owls have rather intricate plumage patterns and interesting color gradations on their dorsal (back) surfaces but they are rarely seen in their entirety in a single image.
That’s partly because to get such an image you need to get them in flight with their wings out and tail spread which is very difficult to do since they’re primarily nocturnal. And when you do manage a flight shot of one you’re usually looking up at them and can’t see much, if any, of the dorsal surface. I thought this image fit the bill. especially with the bird looking down so that we can also see the colors and patterns on the top of the head. Yes, I do wish I had more light in the eye…
1/1600. f/8, ISO 500 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, canvas added for composition, not baited, set up or called in
Another thing I like about the image is the clear look at the alulae (plural of alula) or “bastard wings – the first digit or “thumb” on the leading edge of the wing.
And this shot shows one more thing that intrigues me – the right alula (left in our view) is extended further forward and at a sharper angle than the one on the birds left, perhaps in compensation for the tipped angle of flight. My research indicates that there’s still debate among experts about whether or not birds have muscular control of the alulae or they only respond to the pressure of air currents. This owl has just spotted potential prey below and is flying very slowly as it looks down, so slowly in fact that its flight has almost stalled out – which is exactly when the alulae extend like this and come into play to help keep the bird in the air.
Since I did a fairly recent post on the function of the alulae I won’t go into any more detail about them here. But the subject is fascinating if you have any interest at all in the unique adaptations of birds for flight. Here’s a link to that post if you’re interested. It uses images of a male American Kestrel in flight for illustration.
Ron
Exquisite and fascinating. Thank you.
Amazing!!! I love them all however I have a special spot for barn owls in my heart… not sure why. They are just special and wonderful
amazing!
What gorgeous colors and patterns. I have never seen one in the wild but get to see them a lot now thanks to you Ron. They are strangely beautiful in a unique almost “other worldly” way with those mysterious looking faces and boxy heads. Your tutorial was very interesting to me as an old retired flight attendant, i’m hoping they are at the controls and not on automatic pilot!
Just a quick note for what I assume with a slip, the alula is at the wrist, not the elbow. It is, in effect, where our thumbs would be if our hands were held perpendicular to the ground.
Thank you, Louise. You’re right of course, and I knew that (I got it right on the kestrel post about the alula). Just slipped up. Correction made.
And yes another bird who makes me salivate !!! This post is very informative and the photo is gorgeous. As for the Short-eared Owl in Quebec, the Barn Owl must be decreasing in your area. Thanks.
Our Barn Owl numbers seem to vacillate, Laval. They’re reasonably common except after a hard winter.
Beautiful shot and interesting info!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.
I haven’t heard of the debate about wether or not it’s a movement driven by thought(cerebrum)or spinal reflexes (taking brain out of the loop) . I would think (i.e. guess) it’s a little of both. When my bird discovers something new about herself, she tends to commit it to involuntary motor function (cerebellum/habit) almost immediately. This might be a practice of just Birds of Prey, or all birds? I don’t know. But I do know if I allow her to learn something undesirable(read that as I didn’t realize she was learning a bad habit), its very difficult to un-train her. So in the spirit of talking out loud, I bet if a bird sticks its thumbs out one time and “sees” the benefit of doing it…..well, dangit, why not commit it to the reflexes. We humans are a bit different in that we have to get our big brains out of the way, so our training can help our bodies do the job we want it to do. “Don’t think…trust yourself”….I imagine birds don’t have that inner conversation, lol.
Tim, They’ve done at least one interesting study trying to determine if the alulae are controlled voluntarily or by aerodynamic forces. They compared the reaction of the alulae to wind in a wind tunnel on both living and dead pigeons. Initial results show no difference in alulae response in live and dead birds, suggesting that alulae deflection to aerodynamic forces is not voluntarily controlled. However, more studies need to be done to confirm.
Here’s a link to that study if you’re interested. http://www.ardeola.org/files/1295.pdf
lol….you made me do some reading.
Recent studies (the link you provided is 2001 and heavily quoted on the net, I found a book from 2012) suggests birds use either a passive influence by the alula or an active influence (muscularized). Passive is noted to occur on deceased subjects. its thought that the passive activation may lead to the active response(voluntary muscular reaction) or reflex.
Reference: Morphing Aerospace Vehicles and Structures 2012
Thanks, Tim. Interesting… I looked for a date on that paper but somehow missed it.
WOW, what an exquisite shot Ron. Every once in a while, when I went birding in MA, I would see one flying at dusk, almost dark, hardly any light at all to get a decent shot. Now living in Vermont, I haven’t found one yet, still looking, but the many Great Horned and Barred’s we have I’m sure give the Barns pause. This is a fantastic shot!
Thanks, Dick. As I’ve mentioned before I only see them flying in daylight during extremely harsh winters when they’re having difficulties getting enough food. I love photographing them in flight but I sure don’t like seeing them stressed.
Oh. How beautiful. Thank you so very much for bringing us a whole new angle, and consequently perspective on this stunning bird.
Thank you, Elephant’s Child.