Tag Archives: eye

American Oystercatcher

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American Oystercatchers are boldly patterned shorebirds with red-yellow eyes and a vivid red-orange bill. They survive almost exclusively on shellfish, including clams, oysters, and other saltwater mollusks. The American oystercatcher received its name for its unique ability to open oysters and other small shellfish. Using its knife-like bill, the bird quickly “stabs” the oyster to break open its shell to eat the soft inside.

One here at Sylvan Heights Bird Park in North Carolina.

American Oystercatcher

Eye of War Front

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Horse eyes are among the largest of all land mammals. Only whales, seals, and ostriches have larger eyes. Horses’ large eyes, with large corneas, allow a significant amount of light to enter. Their pupils can dilate to an area three times larger than a cat or dog and six times that of a human.

Horses have a nearly panoramic field of vision due to their eyes being on each side of their head, estimated to be around 350 degrees with only a small blind spot immediately behind them. This means they can see almost all the way around them without moving their heads.

Here is the eye  of War Front at Claiborne Farm.

Eye of War Front

“Albino” Horse

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We saw a distinctive horse at the barn at Churchill Downs. “Albino” horses are a color type of horse born white and have pink skin, but they are not true biological albinos. They have slim heads, muscular necks, compact bodies, sloping shoulders, muscular croup, and long tails. Their eyes are blue, dark, or light brown rather than pink. Their hooves are often weak, but they have flat, smooth gait.

Albino Horse

Blue Eye of a Horse

King Vulture

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The King Vulture is an uncommon, large, and spectacular bird of lowland tropical forest, mainly in wilder areas and not around human habitation. Most often seen soaring overhead in mid-late morning, often fairly high up; rarely seen perched. Striking adult has a colorful head and neck, piercing white eyes, and mostly white plumage with a black trailing edge to the wings and tail. Here is a captive, perched vulture at Carolina Raptor Center, North Carolina.

King Vulture 

Spectacled Owl Female Closeup

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Spectacled Owls are unique owls, so named because of the white spectacles around their yellow eyes, highlighting their brown facial disk. The bill is cream colored. A white stripe around the upper throat divides the color of the body, with the chest being dark brown. Here is a female at the Carolina Raptor Center, North Carolina.

Spectacled Owl Female Closeup