on blend makes based both
The
nightjar's
soft
plumage
and
variegated
colouring
help
it
in
with
its
surrounds
,
but
it
is
the
bird's
own
judgement
in
choosing
the
most
sympathetic
background
that
it
a
camouflage
champion
.
Each
bird
chooses
where
to
nest
its
specific
patterns
and
colours
,
says
camouflage
researcher
Martin
Stevens
,
of
the
Centre
for
Ecology
and
Conservation
at
the
University
of
Exeter
in
Cornwall
.
"
Each
individual
bird
looks
a
little
bit
different
,
"
he
says
.
"
This
is
not
a
species
-
level
choice
.
Individual
birds
consistently
sit
in
places
that
enhance
their
own
unique
markings
,
within
a
habitat
and
at
a
fine
scale
with
regards
to
specific
background
sites
.
"