Orange owl. Snowy owls (Bubo scandiacus) are, as their name suggests, predominantly white — and nobody seems to know how this one, photographed in Huron County, Michigan, acquired bright orange speckles. Theories range from a genetic mutation, whichresearchers say is unlikely, to a dye-based prank. Photographer Julie Maggert, who photographed Creamsicle, as she calls the unusual owl, does not think the orange is the result of accidental contact with paint or de-icing liquid (another hypothesis) because of the pattern. The origin of Creamsicle’s mysterious hue could forever remain a mystery.
Julie Maggert/Exposing Nature Through My Lens