I dunno — to get that image the owl would have to flying forward while oriented vertically.
It might be possible, but I am skeptical...
Tried to put on the breaks?? I agree with you.
Is it possible the owl saw something to eat and was swooping in to catch it when the window hindered the effort?
The wing joints are behind the head. The best you could get would be the extended tips of the wings.
May have instituted the back-stroke at the last second before impact...
Just before the moment of impact the owl saw its reflection in the glass and had applied “the air brakes” an instant before impact. That is why the image left on the glass appears as it does. It is a perfect “picture” of an owl realizing it is about to impact an obstruction in its path, and trying to stop in midair. I’m surprised there isn’t a streak of feces down the windowpane, with such a surprise and forceful impact.
He was flaring to stop, but just a little late.
I dunno to get that image the owl would have to flying forward while oriented vertically.
Or realizing at the last second it was about to hit a solid object. If you could read its beak, it would probably be saying the equivalent of “oh s*it”