Blue-eyed Barred Owl Flying and Tapetum lucidum explained

We had an incredible end to this week’s Winter Owl Workshops yesterday. This Barred Owl spent a few hours hunting in the open meadows in front of my group. It was the perfect end to an incredible week of winter owling with another great group.

Tapetum lucidum

Barred owl eyes can sometimes appear blue due to light scattering and how their eyes reflect light under certain conditions. While barred owls naturally have dark brown to black eyes, they may look blue in photos or under specific lighting.

More details: The tapetum lucidum is a layer of tissue in the eyes of many vertebrates and other animals that lies immediately behind the retina. It reflects visible light back through the retina, increasing the light available to the photoreceptors. The tapetum lucidum contributes to the superior night vision of some animals.

KUDOS:

I recently attended the Winter Owl workshop, and I can honestly say it was an incredible experience. Not only did we have the opportunity to capture a number of  stunning owls in their natural habitat, but the whole trip was expertly organized. Chris was knowledgeable, patient, and offered great tips to help elevate my skills.   It was an unforgettable experience that I highly recommend to anyone looking to improve their wildlife photography while enjoying a unique adventure! - Mike B. (Virginia, USA).

Barred Owl (Strix varia, Chouette rayée, BADO) Ontario, Canada, during my recent Winter Owl Workshops. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 Mark III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 10,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.