Is something wrong with the Screech Owl's eye?

Photo by Phil Jeffrey -- www.philjeffrey.net

Many recent photos of the little red-phased owl show the bird winking or squinting or keeping one eye closed. This has led many to wonder and worry about whether there's something wrong with the bird's eye. The above photo by Phil Jeffrey, the Central Park birder and photographer who also administers that valuable listserv called ebirds , shows that the wink or blink is just a preference, not a handicap. For more of Phil's photographs, check out the link above.