(Hat tip to GrrlScientist)

The Japanese video below shows some astounding transformations by a Southern White-Faced  Scops Owl as it is threatened by owls of other species:

I don’t like the way these zoo-displays of the animal’s behaviour stress out the animal. And the silly soundtrack the Japanese put over the visuals makes it clear that they are pretty alienated from real wildlife other than Pikachu.

But the owl’s control over its own feathers is amazing. If it can tweak its feathers that much just for defensive displays, just imagine how much aerodynamic control it must have.