Why Mallard Duck Eyes Are Actually Pretty Amazing
If you've ever tried to sneak up on a bird at the local park, you've probably realized that mallard duck eyes are way more advanced than they look. At first glance, they just look like little dark beads on the side of a green or brown head. But there is a whole lot of high-tech biology going on in those tiny sockets. These birds have spent millions of years evolving a visual system that lets them find food, navigate across continents, and—most importantly—avoid becoming dinner for a hungry hawk or a fox. ...