During daylight, a Great Horned Owl’s most prominent colors are its mottled brown and black hues. This camouflaging pattern keeps the owl hidden so it can get a good day’s rest. Without it, the owl might be spotted by angry crows or blue jays and get chased away from its roost.
As the sun goes down and the owl wakes up, the forest – and the owl itself – is draped in a new light. The owl’s dark colors and fine patterning nearly disappear in low light conditions. Instead, it is the white throat patch that stands out. For nocturnal animals, contrasting blacks and whites are the most visible and can serve as a warning coloration, just like poisonous monarch butterflies are brightly colored in daytime. Picture a skunk’s bold black and white stripes that act like a spotlight in darkness, highlighting an animal that you would do well to stay away from.
I have yet to find an official explanation for the Great Horned Owl’s relatively bright throat patch, but I have my own theory. When resting, the patch appears as a thin line, perhaps minimizing the bright color to help camouflage while hunting. But when the owl needs to defend its territory, the throat inflates as he calls out a low “whoo-whoo whooo whoo whoo,” and the white patch expands to make a visible display in addition to the audible proclamation.
Theo rested in the classroom overnight this week to escape the cold temperatures. You can most clearly see his white throat patch in the photo (and the white rope covering his perch).
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