The color blue that we see on a bird is created by the way light waves interact with the feathers and their arrangement of protein molecules, called keratin. In other words, blue is a structural color. Different keratin structures reflect light in subtly different ways to produce different shades of what our eyes perceive as the color blue.
Many species use this color to attract mates or signal their dominance in a particular area. For example, male blue jays have vibrant blue feathers that they display during courtship rituals, while female bluebirds prefer males with brighter blue plumage. Moreover, some birds also use the color blue for camouflage and protection from predators.
The size of the nanostructure matches that of the wavelength of blue light. So, while all of the other colors pass through the feather, the blue does not. It is reflected, so you see blue.
This is why ground up feathers turn brown. Once the nanostructures are destroyed, you see the bird's true colors. 30 Amazing bluebird facts There is so much more to these little bluebirds than the eye sees.
Their energy, their behavior, and their lifestyle, in general, are incredibly fascinating. You can spend hours with birdwatching gear if there is a bluebird in your backyard. You will be amazed once you explore the multiple facts about bluebirds.
The blue color seen on birds is often structural, created by how light interacts with feather structures rather than by pigments, allowing for unique visual signals. For example, female birds may prefer mates that reflect more UV light, signaling better health or fitness. Beyond social interactions, blue and UV vision aid foraging and food.
Blue is an uncommon color in birds, and their feathers don't make this color the same way they generate shades of yellow or red. In fact, blue birds are not blue at all! They have other ways of showing this color. How do birds show blue plumage? Why do some blue birds appear black or gray in certain types of lighting? See this article for answers and more about birds with blue feathers! Blue is a rather common color on avian plumage, so naturally, it is important that birds can see it.
Blue is an interesting color structurally, however, and this might have something to do with the origins of this bird myth. And that color is not lost on a female bluebird. Male Eastern Bluebirds that are brighter blue and reflect more ultraviolet light have greater breeding success than their paler counterparts.
Children often ask why the sky is blue, and we can ask the same question about bluebirds. The answer is the same in both cases: it's a trick of the light. The answer to this question is the Blue Jay! The Blue Jay is a beautiful bird that is known for its striking blue plumage.
While most birds have eyes that can only see certain colors, the Blue Jay's eyes are specially adapted to see blue. No bird species can make blue from a pigment. " OK, so why do blue birds look blue? Blue on bird feathers is a " structural color." It is created by the 3-D structure of proteins on the birds' feathers.
The structures are called nanochannels and the proteins are called keratins.