The feathers of the white owls reflect the moonlight that blows prey | Science

When owls hunt at moonlight in the night, you think a bright white plumage would be a disadvantage. But a new study shows that the opposite is true: white owls are more likely to hunt in moonlight than red owls. The New York Times reports. The researchers discovered the difference in hunting success among a group of owls they had been watching for about 30 years. Scientists then threatened the captive voles with stuffed owls in both colors. They discovered that the countrymen froze for up to 5 seconds more when they were confronted with a white owl in conditions similar to those of the full moon. There was no difference in the freezing time of voles in the conditions of the new moon, reports the team this week in Nature Ecology & Evolution. Research suggests that moonlight can select brighter owls, although red owls may be better camouflaged.