Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Unusual Snowy Owl With Orange Feathers Is An "Owldorable" Mystery
IFL Science ^ | March 25, 2025 | Eleanor Higgs

Posted on 03/25/2025 9:14:20 PM PDT by Red Badger

The cause of this unusual color might never be fully understood.

Image courtesy of Julie Maggert

===========================================================================

Birders in Michigan are scratching their heads over unusual photos of a snowy owl. The animal is perfectly perched on a telegraph pole, but instead of snow white and black feathers, the owl's feathers are colored orange.

Spotted in Huron County, the bird was photographed by amateur wildlife photographer Julie Maggert. Since sharing the images on social media, theories have been rife about what could have caused the bird's feathers to become orange.

One theory suggested that the owl had become covered in plane de-icer from nearby Huron County Memorial Airport. “The most likely explanation is that it was de-icing fluid at an airport, since some formulations are that red-orange color,” said Dr Scott Weidensaul, a co-founder of snowy owl research organization Project SNOWstorm, told the New York Times.

Birds can become covered in dye or paint, either accidentally or by human means; sometimes they can even change color due to curry.

However, others were skeptical of this idea and suggested the feathers were the result of a genetic mutation. Genetic mutations can play weird tricks on all kinds of animals, turning feathers and skin white, black, or even yellow.

“Something environmentally turned on the pheomelanin pigment synthesis pathway to make this bird over-express this rufous, chestnutty color,” Professor Kevin McGraw told Michigan Live. McGraw suggested that the bird's mother could have been exposed to a chemical that was then passed down to her chick, causing the coloration difference. “Through toxins, pollutants, other types of environmental stressors, including pesticides, heavy metal contaminants, or oxidative damage. Those are several things that come to mind with this bird,” he said.

Female and male snowy owls look quite different, but neither typically sport orange feathers. Image Credit: FotoRequest/Shutterstock

=======================================================================================

Male snowy owls are almost completely white, while female owls have dark bars across their feathers. It's unlikely that the true cause of this owl's mystery feathers will ever be known.

According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, they have been aware of the bird since the middle of January. “The department has no plans to try to capture it for any reason,” Karen Cleveland, a wildlife biologist for the department, told the New York Times, “so we’re unlikely to ever have a conclusive explanation for this coloring.”



TOPICS: Hobbies; Outdoors; Pets/Animals; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: birder; karencleveland; michigan; offcolor; orange; pheomelanin; snowyowl
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-46 next last
To: Red Badger

Beautiful creature


21 posted on 03/25/2025 11:52:21 PM PDT by digger48
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gundog

Hatched in an Orange Orchard ???


22 posted on 03/26/2025 12:43:30 AM PDT by mabarker1 (I(Congress- the opposite of PROGRESS!!! A fraud, a hypocrite, a liar. I'm a member of Congress!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Trans-humans are often seen with strange colorations so maybe this is a trans-bird.


23 posted on 03/26/2025 12:56:06 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (Kamala defines herself in just 4 words..."Nothing comes to mind.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

I would love to have one mounted in my den.


24 posted on 03/26/2025 1:21:18 AM PDT by fso301
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fidelis

“Must have been a flamingo in the woodpile.”

- - - - - - - -

First thought here also. CRISPR?


25 posted on 03/26/2025 2:03:00 AM PDT by Norski
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Pumpkin Spice Owl?


26 posted on 03/26/2025 3:07:02 AM PDT by PubliusMM (RKBA; a matter of fact, not opinion. The Dhimmicraps are ALL Traitors. All of them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

If an owl with this coloration is again observed next year, it would be reasonable to consider 1) it’s probably the same bird and 2) the coloration is “natural” as it would have gone through a complete molt by the winter of 2025/26.


27 posted on 03/26/2025 3:14:11 AM PDT by Fury
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Climate change.


28 posted on 03/26/2025 3:33:51 AM PDT by pas
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Repeal The 17th

We have Red Tail Hawks...................

29 posted on 03/26/2025 4:01:57 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

I remember that back in the 1960’s, ornithologists used to spray paint seagulls in order to track them. Currently, they use radio trackers, which have less effect on the birds.


30 posted on 03/26/2025 4:18:35 AM PDT by jmcenanly (You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.” ― Winston)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

How many bazillion acres does this owl need to survive?? I say it messed with a parrot....


31 posted on 03/26/2025 4:22:43 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sacajaweau

It didn’t.

It’s daddy did................😉


32 posted on 03/26/2025 4:34:31 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Sacajaweau

It didn’t.

It’s daddy did................😉


33 posted on 03/26/2025 4:34:31 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

I just got up....You expect me to be as sharp as a tack....lol


34 posted on 03/26/2025 4:35:49 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: fidelis

LOL!


35 posted on 03/26/2025 4:38:40 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam (It's hard not to celebrate the fall of bad people. - Bongino)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Maybe the pic was taken on a Friday in Tennessee — “big game tonight!”


36 posted on 03/26/2025 4:40:36 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam (It's hard not to celebrate the fall of bad people. - Bongino)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Repeal The 17th

Same bird i saw on the regular up in PA and OH, except the reddish coloration was on the tail, hence the name “red-tailed hawk”.


37 posted on 03/26/2025 4:47:23 AM PDT by Spacetrucker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

I’ve long been fascinated with thar bird. Had a co-worker who was a master falconer back in the day; even had a golden eagle years back. Would talk about these red-tailed hawks a good bit if you caught him in a good mood.


38 posted on 03/26/2025 4:51:22 AM PDT by Spacetrucker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Repeal The 17th

Love those Red Shouldered Hawks. Have them here at my house too.
redshawk.


39 posted on 03/26/2025 5:01:51 AM PDT by redshawk ( I want my red balloon. https://youtu.be/VexKSRKoWQY)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

It’s Rusty and he has too much Iron in his diet ,LOL


40 posted on 03/26/2025 6:17:44 AM PDT by butlerweave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-46 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson