Remarks on Facial Expression of Birds 
141 
SOME REMARKS 
ON THE FACIAL 
OF BIRDS 
EXPRESSION 
BY GEORGE M. SUTTON 
Before an audience of laymen the writer once made an 
allusion to the “ bright and interesting face of a White-throated 
Sparrow.” The remark caused a considerable amount of com- 
ment among certain ones of the audience who had never thought 
of the possibility that a bird as well as a human being may 
possess facial expression. Since that time, and, in fact, with 
such circumstances as a greater or less stimulus, a considerable 
amount of recording, and a vastly greater amount of observa- 
tion have been accomplished with the end in view of becoming 
familiar with the facial expression of birds. It has become evi- 
dent that even between birds of close relationship great differ- 
ences may occur in this respect, and similarly, birds of distant 
connection may exhibit surprising similarities. It may be well 
to state at the outset that the eye proper, that is, the exposed 
cornea, with the pupil and usually colored iris showing through 
the translucent membranes, is not so much responsible for 
facial expression as is usually thought. Rather, as regards the 
eye, the lids in their position and movement are responsible. 
That the dilation of the pupil influences expression of the eye 
greatly is evident to one who closely observes a Great Horned 
Owl in a trap on the ground, whose eyes, when focused on the 
dark leaves at his feet, give the impression of being mellow, 
liquid, and lustrous, and which as suddenly as the movement 
of the head itself, become hard, piercing, and terribly fierce 
as the captive, facing the observer and the light, raises his 
feathers and snaps his bill sullenly. 
That an Owl possesses facial expression seems readily con- 
ceivable, due to the fact that the' arrangement of eyes, bill, and 
facial discs immediately suggests the human face. For this 
reason, and also on account of the possibility of successfully 
keeping this group in confinement, Owls have been the subject 
of much of the writer’s study, and aside from the great delight 
in possessing the beautiful soft creatures, observation has 
brought to light numerous most interesting matters. The 
Screech Owl, which shrinks to become a stub on the branch 
where he perches, is a familiar proof that the expression of the 
face of a bird depends not so much on the eyes as on the eye- 
lids, and it also shows what a great part the general contour 
