The barn owl’s brilliant white underbelly is the key to its success as a nocturnal hunter, allowing the bird to camouflage ...

The barn owl’s brilliant white underbelly is the key to its success as a nocturnal hunter, allowing the bird to camouflage itself against the moon, according to new research.

Yet, freezing duration varied by barn owl plumage color and moon condition. Voles froze for about nine seconds longer when approached by the white owl under the full moon compared to the new moon ...

The influence of volcanic sulfur on barn owl colors explains less than 10 percent of the color variation, the researchers estimate. Other inputs like genetics play a major role.

The barn owl’s brilliant white underbelly is the key to its success as a nocturnal hunter, allowing the bird to camouflage itself against the moon, according to new research.

When the stuffed barn owl moved towards them, voles stopped moving (in other words, “froze”) for about nine seconds. Yet, freezing duration varied by barn owl plumage color and moon condition.

The barn owl’s brilliant white underbelly is the key to its success as a nocturnal hunter, ... An owl’s ‘shocking’ color should hinder hunting. Scientists may have figured out why it works.