All of the birds are molting right now.
They molt once a year and they get itchy and crabby.
Well, Beak usually looks a little crabby being a Great Horned Owl and all.
Beak's eyelids have tiny new feathers coming in as you can see here.
You can also see his nictitating membranes very well in this photo.
"Nature's windshield wipers", they keep his eyes free of debris and moist.

6 Comments
7EP6vuI@feddit.org · 9 pts · 24d
TIL: Nictitating membrane
anon6789@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 24d
We have the vestigial remains of nictitating membranes!
In the corner of your eye is the plica semilunaris.
Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe · 2 pts · 24d
Oh, cool, had no idea that was a vestigial!
anon6789@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 24d
Makes me wonder if a nictitating membranes feels different than a regular eyelid. Like would we notice which we were blinking? 🤔
Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe · 7 pts · 24d
Don't talk to me until I've had my coffee
anon6789@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 24d
,..And my eyebrows have regrown.
Second thought, just don't talk to me. 🦉
I love grumpy owls. ❤️