These little chicks sport plumage that mimics a pine cone.

[ginaintheburg@mastodon.world]

These little chicks sport plumage that mimics a pine cone.

After all, what idiot would want to swallow a pine cone for dinner?

Smart. Very smart.

#Wildlife #Birds #Nature #Camouflage

[Gast]

@ginaintheburg

Thank you for this beautiful photo of a striped cuckoo chick. The mimicry you point out is also completely new for me, and very interesting.

[ginaintheburg@mastodon.world]

@oldclumsy_nowmad

Glad you enjoyed it! I had the same reaction when I saw the photo. The innate intelligence of nature & natural selection is amazing. It always fills me with wonder and gratitude for the privilege of living on this incredible planet called Earth.

[ginaintheburg@mastodon.world]

@oldclumsy_nowmad

PS I love your avatar - a burrowing owl who is likewise beautifully camouflaged. In this case, to look like just another thoroughly indigestible rock.

Well done, owl genies! Or faeries. Whatever. Well done!

[lritter@mastodon.gamedev.place]

@ginaintheburg most chicks that didn't look like pine cones never got to the point of having offspring. not so smart, to lose the genetic lottery.

[Gast]

@ginaintheburg

Thanks! Burrowing owls are special in many ways.

As you wrote, this incredible Earth and the living creatures that inhabit it are wonderful!

[Gast]

@ginaintheburg Tawny Frogmouth, Australia.