Masters of Camouflage: Nature’s amazing wonder

Many animals and birds are true masters of disguise, blending effortlessly into their environment as a means of survival in the natural world. This collection of images of some of the masters of camouflage shows  unbelievable ability to blend into the background , for concealment in a bid to hide from predators or catching prey.

Concealment or disguise methods commonly used are blending with background color or special blending using mixture of texture,color , shape or behavior to make them resemble as something else in their habitat.

Not all birds are camouflaged , but those who possesses  the natural ability have evolved extensive camouflage skills to protect themselves from predators. 

There are four types of birds that are the most heavily camouflaged:

1)Daytime Roosting Birds. 

Birds that roost during the day and are more active at night often have heavily camouflaged plumage to protect them from the day's active predators. Owls, nighthawks and night-jars are all primarily nocturnal and have developed strong camouflaged plumage for daytime protection when they are less alert.

 Collared Scops Owl blending beautifully with the Tree bark at KGNP,Bharatpur.

Indian Night-jar camouflaged with the ground at Tadoba Tiger Safari,Nagpur

2)Nesting Females.

In bird species where the female does most of the incubation and care of young chicks, is often far more heavily camouflaged than the male.This is true of many types of ducks, as well as for warblers and other songbirds. The female's camouflage helps her blend in with the nest surroundings so she can stay protected without abandoning her young.  

 3) Juveniles.

When first hatched and before they are fully mature, most juvenile birds have camouflaged plumage that may resemble the look of an adult female. Because juvenile birds are vulnerable in the nest and do not initially fly well, this camouflage gives them a slight edge over predators until they are grown enough to avoid danger more successfully. 
  

 Look how the Juvenile Painted Stork is beautifully blending 

with the background color.

4)Ground Foragers.

Birds that regularly forage on the ground where they may be more susceptible to predators often have more camouflaged plumage. This includes many shorebirds, game birds, sparrows, thrashers and brown thrushes that have evolved different colors and markings for protection in their preferred habitat.

 Blue Throat normally forages on the ground and 

can be seen splendidly blending with the habitat.

Types of Bird Camouflage:

Irrespective of the reason why a bird needs to be camouflaged, there are three types of disguise shield they may have.

Colour camouflage.

The colors of a bird's plumage are its first camouflage defense. Shades of brown, buff, rust, black, grey and white can help a bird blend into its surroundings effectively, and many bird species have developed specific colors that match their habitats in different seasons or different geographic regions. 

For example Stone plover when in southern parts of India will have a buff-ish coloration to match the color of  the stone , when the same Plover travels to the northern parts of India somewhere in Rajasthan or Gujarat will slightly change it's color according to the region or surrounding.

 

 Grey headed Fish Eagle waiting for it's prey perfectly camouflaged with the surrounding

Marking camouflage.
A bird's markings both help it blend into its surroundings and break up its outline to make it more difficult to see. Spots, stripes, streaks, mottling or other patterns can be effective camouflage, such as the Least Sandpipers who have brown rusty upper parts found mostly on mudflats and marshes breeding on insects and and are well camouflaged to protect themselves from their predators like Eagles and Hawks.

 Least Sandpiper breeding on Mudflats in PlumIsland, Massachusetts.

 Posture camouflage.

In addition to physical characteristics that serve as camouflage, many birds have developed behaviours that help enhance their ability to disappear. How a bird stands or roosts can be effective camouflage, such as how the Eurasian Thick Knee bend it's knee while in a squat position to merge with the surroundings and roost for hours. Not only can this behaviour protect birds from predators, but it can also help them become predators themselves when unsuspecting prey does not see past the camouflage and ventures too close.   

 

Eurasian Thick Knee in a classical bend knee squatting position.

 

   Striated Heron standing in a still posture for hours looking for it's prey.

In addition to being camouflaged through plumage colors and markings as well as posture and behavior, birds have developed other means of protective camouflage. Many birds use different nesting materials to camouflage their nests, and the eggs themselves may have markings to stay camouflaged so they are hard for predators to find even if the parents are not nearby.