Thrushes or the Muscicapidae family apparently have had a very good year. There are hundreds of robins, bluebirds, and solitaires coming to our water dishes to bathe and drink in this winter of little moisture.  These birds got me thinking about eyes and their significance in both the bird and human world.

Solitaires and robins have eye rings that differentiate them from other perhaps similar looking birds.  At first blush in flight, the solitaire looks like a fairly nondescript grey bird.  But a closer look reveals that white eye ring and some buff colored feathers above the tail area.

solitaire

The American robin also has an eye ring, as shown below.

robins

Roosters and chickens seem to have large, intense eyes.  Apparently, eye rings are not required.

Big Daddy eyes

Eyes of all species are constantly searching and sensing what is necessary for survival, true of this coyote watching me.

coyote eyes

Then there is the human eye, coming in all shapes, sizes, and colors, each speaking its own language within a smile, a frown, glare, or in a stare of wistfulness.

I do not know the significance of an eye ring, or the particular color or shape of an eye, but I have a deep appreciation of them.  In my book, the eyes do have it!

until next Monday,

DB

a passion for the image@