We spotted this female Brewers Blackbird hanging around on rocks that were so similar to her coloring that at first we were not sure if the rocks were moving or it was a bird we saw. With a little rationale thought and commonsense (what little we have) we decided that the rocks were not moving and it must indeed be a bird and it was time to get a closer look. We were only able to get half as close as we wanted to capture a clean photo but we got one nonetheless, albeit a bit on the fuzzy side. It is remarkable how her coloring matched the surrounding rocks..green on green.
nature has no boss 
Nice shot! I love how the background colors echo the wings.
LikeLike
Yes, the blending of the birds colors into the rocks is quite something. Hope you are having a great morning.
LikeLike
Brewers blackbirds’ coloring is so mysterious, this is a wonderful photo, Mike.
LikeLike
Hi Jet, it is really fascination coloration and this one being on those green rocks really hammers that home. Hope your day is going well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
lovely creature
LikeLike
Thanks Jennifer.
LikeLike
That is really amazing, do you think there is an adaptive connection or is it just a coincidence?
LikeLike
Hi Eliza, this is a question I would like to have an answer to and one I wonder about all the time. How local an adaptation in coloration can be. I often notice around here that there is a huge difference in the feathers of great horned owls based upon the forest to rocks they nest in. For example those that nest in the cliffs of red sandstone are way more red than those nesting in cottonwood trees. For a more transitory bird like this Brewers it just blows my mind that there is adaptation to the green rocks as I am sure they move around much more and are exposed to many colors in their environment. So much to learn.
LikeLike
That is an important observation. I wonder if Cornell Lab of Ornithology has anything about it? They spend all their days observing birds after all!
LikeLike
Hi Eliza, I have not read anything on their website regarding this but local adaptation exists but just how local does it get is a great question.
LikeLike
The Galapagos provide a good study ground for isolated local adaptation, but it is tougher to prove without the isolation. Fun to ponder!
LikeLike
Indeed fun to think about and I always wonder what the sensory input is and the connections made to result in telling a feather or some skin on a reptile what color is is to be as to match the outside world. Amazing.
LikeLike
Like octopi and chameleons. Nature never ceases to amaze, that is for sure.
LikeLike
yes.
LikeLike