The Wider View: Is it a bird... or a tree?     

At first glance it appears to be the bark of a tree, but look a little closer and you will spot a beak, razor-sharp talons and a pair of feathery ears.

乍一看这似乎是树皮，但仔细一瞧，发现看到锐利的嘴，和一对羽毛耳朵。这是只非洲猫头鹰。

This is an African Scops owl resting on the branch of a camelthorn tree in Namibia.

It doesn't need its camouflage when hunting insects and spiders at night.

Barking up the wrong tree: The tiny African Scops owl is perfectly camouflaged against a camelthorn tree in Namibia

But, when resting during the day, this tiny owl, which measures just 6.5in in length, is at risk of being attacked by other birds.

So it perches tightly pressed against a tree trunk, its streaky brown and grey plumage rendering it almost invisible.

It can also elongate its body and lean sideways to make it look even more like the surrounding branches.

Were the bird to open fully its large, bright orange eyes, its disguise would be ruined.

But it did peek with one eye at wildlife photographer Thomas Dressler just 'to see what I was doing'.