Camouflage
When confronted by danger, most birds
immediately take to the air. But some,
particularly those that feed or roost on the
ground, use camouflage to hide from
predators. The birds that lie low the longest
are those with camouflaged plumage.
Hidden on pebbles
An open beach ma y seem a
difficult place for a bird to
conceal itself. But the moment
it stops moving, a ringed plover
seems to vanish among the
beach pebbles.
Ringed
plover
First defence
The woodcock is mainly nocturnal
and lives in woodland. It covers
the white underside of its tail
feathers to stay hidden. If its
camouflage fails, it will
take off and dart
through the trees with
a swerving flight.
Probing beak
Woodcock