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Mimicry and Natural Camouflage Patterns

Can You See Me Now?
By Bill Marchel

Cryptic (krip'tik) adj. Having hidden or vague qualities. Ghostlike. Secret. Concealment.

The creatures that inhabit the fields, forests and marshes have evolved numerous methods in which they avoid being eaten by other animals.

Some sleep the day away, out of sight, only to emerge under the cover of darkness to feed. Others escape by retreating. Those animals rely on fleetness of foot or wing to outmaneuver predators. Others still, depend on their remarkable cryptic coloration to avoid detection.

The king of camouflage is the moth. They are active at night, but during daylight hours they rest, amazingly well camouflaged even when perched in the open. A moth's extraordinary cryptic coloration even provides "depth" allowing their flat wings to appear three-dimensional.

The Ruffed Grouse Perched in this tree is almost impossible to see.

It takes an especially sharp eye to spot a ruffed grouse perched close to the trunk of a spruce tree. It's amazing how a bird so plump can stretch out and suddenly become so thin. Ruffed grouse hunters call this the "bowling pin" position. 		The Great Grey Owl uses its natural camouflage abilities to avoid being spotted.

Great gray owls usually spend the middle part of the day snuggled up to the trunk a tree where their remarkable camouflage patterns and coloration helps them avoid detection.


An American Bittern using its natural camouflage abilities.

Note the bittern hidden among cattails. Look closely and you'll see the bird in the left center of the image. The bittern has assumed what is called the "reed" position with its bill pointed skyward to camouflage itself.



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