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Green Eyed Lil Monster (lemmy.world)

submitted 8 hours ago by anon6789@lemmy.world to c/superbowl@lemmy.world

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From The Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital at Cornell University

The arrival of winter at the Swanson Wildlife Hospital means an influx of owls that have been hit by a car. Although eye injury is a common problem in these owls, a more rare occurrence is a bright green iris. This occurs when blood, inflammation, and other factors combine to create the right conditions for this to occur. The beautiful green color usually only lasts a day or two, as medications (and the owl's own healing) bring it back to its normal coloration.

This particular screech owl did excellent, and was discharged to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for eventual release back to the wild.

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[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 24 points 7 hours ago

Some more technical details from this previous post:

So, why is this owl's eye green you ask?

Mammals have Bilirubin. It is responsible for the yellow color of healing bruises and the yellow discoloration in jaundice.

Avian species have Biliverdin (Latin for green bile), green tetrapyrrolic bile pigment, and is a product of heme catabolism. It is the pigment responsible for a greenish color sometimes seen in bruises.

The green indicates blood trauma that is healing his eye, and should be absorbed by the body and eventually disappear.