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Swallow "Eyelashes"

Discussion

4 replies
Posted by Dennis Plank on April 6, 2014 at 9:50 PM
Swallow "Eyelashes"
I never noticed the feathers in front of a Swallow's eyes until I was processing some images today. It's an interesting adaptation. There is a series of feathers (black in Violet-green and Tree Swallows) in front of the eye that look as if they're adapted to shield the eye from debris in their acrobatic flights. Possibly they also help disguise their eyes from flying insects to make it easier to catch them.

In either case it really looks cool at the right angle.

:toast:
Posted by Jim Zablotny on April 7, 2014 at 7:55 AM
Hi Dennis--Very nice macro shot :toast: . The black color also reduces glare.....................Jim
Posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on April 7, 2014 at 5:09 PM
great shot and cool info....thanks
Posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 8, 2014 at 9:09 PM
really sweet detail!
Nice work!
Sandy
Posted by Sharon Hallowell on April 9, 2014 at 6:16 AM
Very cool! You might like this...
http://biology.allaboutbirds.org/all-about-feathers/