Photo by Kathy Keane
Photo by Tina R . Schell
Above : Egret . Below : Chuck Will ' s widow . Right : Woodstork .
Photo by Pamela Cohen
helps but not in the way you may think . Because the contour feathers lie above a layer of downy feathers , heat absorbed by the feathers is not necessarily transferred to the body . Black feathers can shield the bird from solar radiation by allowing wind to move the heat absorbed by the dark feather away from the body . In contrast , white feathers allow some radiation to pass through the contour feathers and reach the skin . Therefore , birds with black plumage can stay cooler in warmer climates , and birds with white plumage can stay warmer in cooler temperatures .
Color can aid in the durability or “ shelf-life ” of a feather . Feathers with melanin are stronger and more durable than feathers without , so it is no surprise that black feathers appear in many species ’ flight feathers . The wood stork is entirely white except for its flight feathers on the wing and tail , which are black . Because the tips of the flight feathers are more subject to air turbulence and movement , the melanin in the feathers helps protect the feathers from damage .
Some of the most beautiful birds in the world are not bright and colorful but instead have intricate patterns of browns , grays , blacks , and tans . The Chuck-will ’ s-widow is common on Kiawah during the summer months , but if it were not for its loud and insistent songs at night , we would not even know they were here . This bird relies on camouflage to help conceal itself during the day . The color and pattern of its feathers match the appearance of leaf litter on the ground . Because they can blend in , they are less vulnerable to predators during the day when they are sleeping .
For most species of birds , males are more colorful than females . Males with the brightest plumage “ always get the girl .” We now know that a bird ’ s diet choices affect the pigments available to create specific colors . Therefore , a bird must find better and more food to maximize its coloration and demonstrate its fitness . For example , house finches are a common bird that visits our feeders on Kiawah . Males are reddish on the head and breast , while females are brown and streaky overall . Studies have shown that females choose males that have the brightest plumage . Not only do they choose the most colorful males , but they also select the males with the most extensive red patches .
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