Electroretinographically determined spectral sensitivity in the tawny owl (Strix aluco).

Obtained the electroretinographic (ERG) responses to single light flashes and to flickering lights in the tawny owl (Strix aluco), using 2 tawny owls from 300 that had been in captivity 6 mo. The waveform of the single-flash responses indicated that the owl possesses a duplex retina. Spectral sensitivity was determined with light flickering at 6 and 25 Hz. The sensitivity curve obtained from the 6-Hz responses had a broad maximum between 500 and 525 nm. The 25-Hz sensitivity curve was narrow with a peak at about 600 nm. The sensitivity curves were compared with behaviorally measured sensitivity curves of the same species and with ERG-measured sensitivity curves of the pigeon. A close agreement was found between 25-Hz curve and the pigeon red modulator. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)