{"id":138123,"date":"2023-05-18T22:28:06","date_gmt":"2023-05-19T03:28:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/windycityparrot.com\/?p=138123"},"modified":"2023-05-18T22:28:06","modified_gmt":"2023-05-19T03:28:06","slug":"why-are-bird-species-different-colors-here-are-4-examples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/?p=138123","title":{"rendered":"Why Are Bird Species Different Colors?  &#8211; Here Are 4 Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Greetings to all you fellow crazy bird people,<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Ever wonder about the guy that looked at a silkworm and said &#8220;That would make a great shirt!&#8221;<br \/>\n<\/span><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">At 71 I wonder more than ever, kind of trying to keep up with all things digital, and science it&#8217;s all so breathtaking and fast-moving.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">I&#8217;m tired of listening to all the child billionaires whining about god knows what and then buying half a country.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">That&#8217;s why we immerse ourselves in birds, right?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">As noisy as they are&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/api.smugmug.com\/services\/embed\/13432990905_GK7kVxN?width=720&amp;height=1280&amp;albumId=207679620&amp;albumKey=ccRDwP\" width=\"720\" height=\"1280\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">\u00a0&#8230;they bring a richness not found with fins and fur.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">They fly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">So I take solace in the chortle of the bugger&#8217;s &#8216;er budgies listening to them plan their day in the morning and busy themselves until I stumble to the staircase where Catherine left the food tray with clean water dishes, and 3 veggie mash-ups for them and Barney our tiel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">I will have by then, brought down the big brothers, Keto (African ringneck) and Chili (Quaker in the video above) where their fresh veggies await them in their day cages.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">While Barney stares me down at my desk from the headboard (I have a short work commute),<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"138125\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/?attachment_id=138125\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Barney-cockatiel-headboard-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,1200\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-title=\"Why Are Bird Species Different Colors?  &amp;#8211; Here Are 4 Examples\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Why Are Bird Species Different Colors?  &amp;#8211; Here Are 4 Examples&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Why Are Bird Species Different Colors?  &amp;#8211; Here Are 4 Examples&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Barney-cockatiel-headboard-1.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-138125 aligncenter\" title=\"Why Are Bird Species Different Colors?  - Here Are 4 Examples\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Barney-cockatiel-headboard-600x600.jpg?resize=600%2C600&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Cockatiel perched on headboard in front of windo\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">I&#8217;ll ask myself, &#8220;Why are your cute cheeks so orange dude?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Feathered factoid: when you can determine the sex of the bird by its color (we talk about Eclectus parrots below) it is called sexual dimorphism.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Sexual dimorphism occurs in about 20% of bird species.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">We know Keto our African ringneck is a male because of his ring which females lack such a necklace.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/api.smugmug.com\/services\/embed\/13433137260_2VCkFLJ?width=854&amp;height=480&amp;albumId=207679051&amp;albumKey=Zk7WHz\" width=\"854\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Here&#8217;s my research.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Cockatiels have orange cheeks<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">because of the presence of a pigment called psittacofulvin. Psittacofulvin is a carotenoid pigment, which is a type of pigment that is found in plants and animals. It is responsible for the yellow and orange coloration in many birds, including cockatiels.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">The amount of psittacofulvin in a cockatiel&#8217;s feathers is determined by its genetics. Male cockatiels typically have more psittacofulvin than female cockatiels, which is why their cheeks are more orange.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">The orange cheeks of cockatiels are thought to be a form of sexual dimorphism, which is a difference in appearance between males and females of the same species. Sexual dimorphism is often used by animals to attract mates. In the case of cockatiels, the orange cheeks of males may help them to attract females.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/product\/lafebers-fruit-delight-avi-cakes-small-bird-8-oz-227-g\/<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">In addition to being a form of sexual dimorphism, the orange cheeks of cockatiels may also serve as a way for them to communicate with each other. The color of a cockatiel&#8217;s cheeks can change depending on its mood. For example, a cockatiel that is feeling angry or agitated may have brighter orange cheeks than a cockatiel that is feeling relaxed or content.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">The orange cheeks of cockatiels are a beautiful and unique feature that helps to make these birds so popular as pets.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">African Greys have red tails <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">To attract mates. The brighter the red tail, the more attractive the parrot is to potential mates.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">To communicate with other African Greys. The color of the tail can be used to communicate a variety of things, such as mood, location, and danger.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">To deter predators. Many predators associate the color red with danger, so flashing their tails can help to scare off predators.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">To help them fly. The red tail feathers are larger and more aerodynamic than the other feathers, which helps African Greys to fly more efficiently.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">It is likely that the red tail of the African Grey is a combination of all of these factors. The bright red color helps the parrot to attract mates, communicate with other parrots, deter predators, and fly more efficiently.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe title=\"African Grey Became World's Biggest Troublemaker | Cuddle Parrots\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wakJ_gJncb0\" width=\"854\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Here are some additional details about each of these reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Attracting mates. The color of a bird&#8217;s feathers is often used to attract mates. In the case of African Greys, the brighter the red tail, the more attractive the parrot is to potential mates. This is because the color red is associated with health and vitality.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Communicating with other African Greys. The color of the tail can also be used to communicate with other African Greys. For example, a parrot that is feeling threatened may flash its tail feathers to warn other parrots of danger. The color of the tail can also be used to communicate location. For example, a parrot that is lost may flash its tail feathers to signal to other parrots that it is looking for its flock.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Deterring predators. Many predators associate the color red with danger. This is because some poisonous or venomous animals are red in color. So, when a predator sees a red bird, it may be less likely to attack.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Helping them fly. The red tail feathers are larger and more aerodynamic than the other feathers. This helps African Greys to fly more efficiently. The red tail feathers also help to keep the parrot&#8217;s balance while it is flying.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/product\/higgins-safflower-gold-conure-cockatiel-no-sunflower-25-lb-11-34-kg\/<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Overall, the red tail of the African Grey is a beautiful and unique feature that helps the parrot to survive and thrive in the wild.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Male Eclectus parrots are green and females are red <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">because of sexual dimorphism, which is a difference in appearance between the sexes of the same species. Sexual dimorphism is often used by animals to attract mates. In the case of Eclectus parrots, the bright colors of the male and female help them to stand out from each other and from other birds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">The green coloration of the male Eclectus parrot helps him to blend in with the forest canopy, where he spends most of his time foraging for food. The red coloration of the female Eclectus parrot helps her to attract attention from males. The bright red color is also a signal to other females that she is already taken.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Sexual dimorphism is a common phenomenon in the animal kingdom. It is thought to have evolved as a way for animals to compete for mates and to ensure the survival of their genes. In the case of Eclectus parrots, the bright colors of the male and female help them to attract mates and to raise healthy young.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe title=\"Male vs Female Eclectus Parrots\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DPhrlMGdlWo\" width=\"854\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Here are some additional details about the sexual dimorphism of Eclectus parrots:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Males are green: The green coloration of the male Eclectus parrot is due to the presence of a pigment called biliverdin. Biliverdin is a byproduct of the breakdown of red blood cells. The male Eclectus parrot has a higher concentration of biliverdin in his feathers than the female.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Females are red: The red coloration of the female Eclectus parrot is due to the presence of a pigment called carotenoids. Carotenoids are pigments that are found in plants and animals. They are responsible for the yellow, orange, and red coloration in many birds, including Eclectus parrots. The female Eclectus parrot has a higher concentration of carotenoids in her feathers than the male.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">The difference in coloration is thought to be a form of sexual selection. Sexual selection is a process by which animals evolve traits that help them to attract mates. In the case of Eclectus parrots, the bright colors of the male and female help them to stand out from each other and from other birds. This makes them more likely to be noticed by potential mates.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">The bright colors of the male and female also help them to communicate with each other. The male Eclectus parrot uses his green coloration to blend in with the forest canopy, where he spends most of his time foraging for food. The female Eclectus parrot uses her red coloration to attract attention from males. The bright red color is also a signal to other females that she is already taken.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/product\/bodacious-bird-toy-for-large-parrots-waterfall\/<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Overall, the sexual dimorphism of Eclectus parrots is a beautiful and unique feature that helps these birds to survive and thrive in the wild.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/api.smugmug.com\/services\/embed\/13433080923_pkWR4RF?width=854&amp;height=480&amp;albumId=208465875&amp;albumKey=L7qCjR\" width=\"854\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">I fact-checked with NASA when learning about the colors of budgie feathers.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/light-bird-cage-florescent-budgies-gift-nasa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Light Up Your Bird Cage with Florescent Budgies a Gift from NASA<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Best<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">MitchR<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Greetings to all you fellow crazy bird people, Ever wonder about the guy that looked at a silkworm and said &#8220;That would make a great shirt!&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":141828,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","_templately_pack_id":"","_templately_imported_at":"","_templately_source":"","_templately_import_session_id":"","_thinkrank_schema_form_data":"","_thinkrank_selected_schema_type":"","_thinkrank_additional_schemas":"","_thinkrank_canonical_url":"","_thinkrank_og_title":"","_thinkrank_og_description":"","_thinkrank_og_image":"","_thinkrank_twitter_title":"","_thinkrank_twitter_description":"","_thinkrank_twitter_image":"","_thinkrank_imported_from":"","_thinkrank_focus_keywords":[],"_thinkrank_focus_keyword":"","_thinkrank_robots_meta_enabled":0,"_thinkrank_robots_meta":"","_thinkrank_advanced_robots_meta":"","_thinkrank_exclude_from_search":0,"_thinkrank_exclude_from_archives":0,"_thinkrank_primary_category":0,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"page_builder":"","_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[206,194,213,205,200,250,201],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-138123","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-africa-grey","category-bird-parrot-anaotmy","category-bird-parrot-breeding","category-budgies","category-cockatiels","category-eclectus-parrots","category-feeding-pet-birds"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":{"landsacpe":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/male-female-eclectus-1.jpg?resize=800%2C445&ssl=1",800,445,true],"list":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/male-female-eclectus-1.jpg?resize=463%2C348&ssl=1",463,348,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/male-female-eclectus-1.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1",300,300,true],"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/male-female-eclectus-1.jpg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1",800,800,false]},"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/phcfkq-zVN","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/male-female-eclectus-1.jpg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138123","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=138123"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138123\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/141828"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=138123"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=138123"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=138123"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}