Hummingbirds are beautiful, colorful, and agile birds. They have a striking and bright plumage, being one of the most imposing birds in the animal kingdom. However, did you know that its plumage is iridescent? Light bounces off their feathers, which means that they glow and change color when viewed from different perspectives.
For this reason, although some birds (such as peacocks or ducks) have majestic feathers, when it comes to showiness and color, hummingbirds have no competition. However, until recently scientists were unaware why the feathers of these birds are so peculiar. According to a study published in the journal Evolution , scientists concluded that hummingbird feathers have the same composition as other birds. However, the structure of its feathers and the pigments they contain are capable of reflecting the different color ranges.
Hummingbird feathers
According to international research carried out by the Field Museum in Chicago , all bird feathers are made of keratin, the same protein that is present in human skin, nails or hair.
In addition, they have cells that contain pigment-producing organelles (that is, melanosomes). People also have melanosomes, since they are responsible for producing melanin and coloring our hair and skin.
However, pigment is not the only way that birds can obtain color. The shape and distribution of melanosomes can influence the way light bounces off them, resulting in bright, vivid colors. Thus, according to the researchers, the feathers of birds are organized in layers and, when light bounces off these layers, bright colors appear as if it were a soap bubble.
On the other hand, the researchers also found that the thickness of their feathers and the shape of the melanosome affects the color of their plumage. In fact, these traits allow them to mix and match more colors than other species of birds.
Now, scientists are trying to find out how feather structure affects color and what genes are behind the bright colors in bird plumage.
