Birds: Feather Color Is More Than Skin Deep
Where do birds get their red feathers from? According to Esther del Val, from the National History Museum in Barcelona, Spain, and her team, the red carotenoids that give the common crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) its red coloration are produced in the liver, not the skin, as previously thought.
Their findings, published online in Springer’s journal Naturwissenschaften, have implications for understanding the evolution of color signaling in bird species.
Carotenoids have important physiological functions, including antioxidant, immunomodulating, and photoprotectant properties. Carotenoid pigments are also used by many bird species as colorants, and are responsible for most of their red, orange and yellow coloration. In particular, carotenoid-red coloration in birds has been shown to act as an ornament, signaling the nutritional and health status of the individual and its ability to locate high quality resources. Recent studies have suggested that the transformation of carotenoid pigments takes place directly in the follicles during feather growth.
Del Val and her team show for the first time that, contrary to previous assumptions, the liver acts as the main site for the synthesis of carotenoids responsible for the birds’ coloration, not the skin.
The researchers examined the carotenoid content of the liver, blood, skin and feathers of seven common crossbills (finches) in which adult males display carotenoid-based coloration on the throat, breast and rump. They were particularly interested in the anatomical origin of the birds’ red plumage. They found the primary red feather pigment of male crossbills in the birds’ liver and blood, implying that the carotenoids are synthesized in the liver and then travel to the peripheral tissues via the bloodstream.
Del Val concludes: “This surprising divergence with previous studies raises the question whether there are inter-specific differences in anatomical sites for conversion of carotenoids. Understanding inter-specific variation in mechanisms of color production may be the key to comprehend the different evolutionary pathways involved in color signaling.”
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1.birds get there red feathers from there liver
2.a baby birds color can tell you its health
3.a birds color changes when it gets older
1. birds get most of thier color form thier liver.
2. the color of thier feathers determins how old they get.
3. scientist are very intrested what makes the red plomage
4. del val, was a major reashercher in this Experiment!
5. the colder the bird get the darker thier feather’s get.
1.Bird’s feather color comes from there liver.
2.The liver acts for the synthesis of carotenoids responsible for the birds coloration, not the skin.
3.There color may be based on nutrition and health.
4.Studies have proved the transformation of carentanoid pigments takes place in the follicles during growth of feathers.
5.Coloration is signaled by the health and nutrition of the bird.
1.Caroteniods have functions physiological functions, including antioxidants, immunomodulating, and photoprotectant properties.
2.Carotenoids pigments are also used by many bird species as colorants, and are responsible for most of thier red, orande and yellow coloration.
3.Recent studies have sugested that the transformation of colorenoid pigments takes place directly in the follicles during feather growth.
4.They were particularly interested in the antatomical origin of the birds’ red plumage.
5.Understanding inter-specific variation im mechanisms of color production mat be the key to comprehend the different evolutionary pathways envoled the color signaling.
It is a theroy that the red carotenoid’s feather color comes from the liver and not the skin. It also makesred, orange and yellow coloration depending the their health status. These birds have important physiological functionsthat include: antioxidant, immunomodulating, and photoprotectant properties. Studies have suggested that the transformation of carotenoid pigments takes place in the follicles during their feather growth. The liver, blood, skin and feathers have seven common crossbills in which adult males display carotenoid-based coloration on the throat, breast and rump.
Article Summary for November 16, 2009
~ Birds get the color from there liver not there skin.
~ Carotenoids have important physiological functions.
~ The Natural History Center in Barcalona recently discovered of the bird.
~ Coloration is signaled by the health and nutrition of the bird.
~ Researchers examined their blood, liver, skin, and feathers.
1.Birds dont get the color of thier feathers from their skin.
2. Birds get the color of their feathers from the liver.
3.The liver acts for the synthesis of carotenoids responsible for the birds coloration, not the skin.
4.Carotenoids have important physiological functions.
5.Carotenoid pigments are also used by many bird species as colorants
the red coloring of a birds feathers are from its liver
the primary red feather pigment of male crossbills is in the liver and blood
when the bird is a baby its color can tel you its health
its color changes as it gets older
cartenoid pigments are used many bird specicies
birds skin is not the same color as the feathers.
the red feather color comes from the liver.
the birds color changes as the bird gets older.
the males pigment is seen on its liver.
the color of the bird determines the nutrition of the bird.
Feathers show how healthy they are.
The birds skin isn’t the same color as their feathers.
As the bird gets older its color changes.
They get their color from its liver.
You can tell how old they are by their feathers.
researchers examined the liver skin and feathers
their color soon change
birds get their color from their liver
Del val was the researcher
they discovered that the liver was the main side
It is thought that birds get there red feathers from there skin. Recent studies have suggested that the transformation of carotenoid pigments takes place directly in the follicles during feather growth. The liver acts as the main site for the synthesis of carotenoids responsible for the birds’ coloration, not the skin.
Carotenoids have important physiological functions: antioxidant, immunomodulating, and photoprotectant properties. Adult males display carotenoid-based coloration on the throat, breast and rump.
1. A Lady named Esther del Val and her team the birds coloring of the feathers is produced in the liver.
2. Carotenoid pigments are used by many bird species as colorants and they make most of the reds, oranges, and yellows in the feathers.
3. Carotenoid-red coloration in birds has been shown to be ornimont showing the nutritional and health status of it and its ability to locate high quality resorces.
4.Researchers examined the carotenoid content of the blood,liver,skin and feathers of seven common crossbills in which adult males display carotenoid-based coloration on the throat, runmp and breast.
5.Reserchers found the primary red feather pigment of male crossbills in the birds’ liver and blood, showing that the carotenoids are synthesized in the liver and then travel to the tissues in the birds bloodstream.
* researchers examined the liver skin and feathers
* their color soon change
* birds get their color from their liver
*Del val was the researcher
* The bird skin is rerd from the liver
1. the color of a birds feather was made by the liver and not from the skin.
2. when the carotenoid pigments are transforming it takes place durectly in the follicles during the growth of its feathers.
3. There are many funtions of a carotenoid including; antioxodents, immunomodulating, and photoprocent properties.
4. Health status and nutrition is signaled by the coloration of birds.
5. The liver is the main site of carotenoids body at which coloration happens.
1. Carotenoids have important physiological functions such as antioxidant and immunomodulating.
2. They coordinate on red, yellow, and orange coordinations.
3. They exaimined the liver, blood, skin and feathers of seven crossbills.
4. They examined it’s color coordination.
5. And found out the key to comprehend the different evolutionary pathways involved in color signaling.
Have you ever wondered where a bird gets its color? If you guessed their skin you’re wrong. Birds get there red color from their liver. Feather colors also come from pigments this is responsible for yellow and orange. Researchers say that some male color comes from blood.
1. Birds feathers are produced from their liver, not the skin.
2. As the bird gets older, its feather color changes.
3. Coloration is based on the health of the bird.
4. They examined the liver, blood, skin, and feathers of 7 crossbills.
5. They coordinate red, yellow, and orange coordinations.
Where do birds get their red feathers from? According to Esther del Val, from the National History Museum in Barcelona, Spain, and her team, the red carotenoids that give the common crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) its red coloration are produced in the liver, not the skin, as previously thought.
Their findings, published online in Springer’s journal Naturwissenschaften, have implications for understanding the evolution of color signaling in bird species.
According to Esther del Val the birds get there red coloration from the liver not the skin.Carotenoids have important physiological functions like antioxidant, immunomodulating, and photoprotectant properties. they say that as the bird gets older that there colors may change and coloration is based on the health of the bird.
Birds get there feathers from their liver and not there skin. Also by a baby birds color you can tell if it’s healthy. When a bird gets older their color might change. Carotenoid pigments are also used by many birds as colorants, and are responsible for most of their red, orange and yellow colors.
The cartenoids that give the common crossbill its red color are produced in the liver, not the skin. Carotenoids have important functions like antioxidant, immunomodulating, and photoprotectant functions. Carteniod pigments give many bird species the red, orange, and yellow coloration. The cartenoid red coloration signals the nutritional and health status of the bird and its ability to lacate high quality resources. Adult males have cartenoid-based coloration on the throat, chest, and rump.