While on a quest to capture stunning photographs of a great grey owl in a Canadian forest, a photographer stumbled upon the perfect opportunity. The owl had mastered the art of camouflage and was blending seamlessly with the bark of a tree. James S. Batuigas, an amateur photographer from Burnaby, Canada, had traveled for five hours to his favorite wildlife photography spot in a British Columbia forest. That’s when he chanced upon the awe-inspiring sight of the perfectly camouflaged owl.

According to Batuigas’ account to the UK publication Daily Mail, he had planned to search for the elusive great grey owl that day. While on a forest road, he scanned every tree in hopes of spotting one since they usually rest during noontime. Suddenly, he spotted something moving out of the corner of his eye on a tree trunk and realized that it was the great grey owl. The bird’s plumage blended so well with the bark of the tree that he would have missed it entirely if it hadn’t turned its head to look at him.

According to the Owl Research Institute, the hues of an owl’s plumage serve a dual purpose: to aid in blending with its surroundings and to regulate its body temperature. However, feather coloring isn’t the only mechanism that owls utilize for camouflage. These birds possess additional techniques to conceal themselves.

Owls have a unique way of hiding themselves from predators or prey. They tend to stand tall and puff up their feathers, making themselves appear skinnier and more difficult to spot. In addition to this technique, owls also raise the white feathers around their bill to blend in with their surroundings even more effectively.

The incredible camouflaging abilities of owls enable them to remain undetected by both their prey and photography enthusiasts.