Why Are Tropical Birds More Colorful Than Other Birds?

In fact, this question that we are all wondering is scientifically “adaption” It has a short answer. However, when we look at the variation of this color diversity according to the region, we still have question marks in our minds. Let’s solve this together!

No matter where we are in the world, these kinds of birds that we see everywhere actually use their colors and ornaments to influence and court the opposite sex, apart from adaptation. Contrary to popular belief, the breed that does this male not female What if we say it is?

If we leave aside the game of impressing the female, they also use these features to camouflage in the environment.

Considering the bird species Males have a greater variety of colors than female birds. We see. Male birds make more use of the variety of colors to hide from predatory species and to camouflage themselves. For example, budgerigars and parrots, which we all know well, are at the top of the tropical bird group. These birds have become a symbol of the region.

Do birds evolve to be “more colorful” when they travel to the tropics?

“Birds have magic? How could they do such a thing!” Let’s revisit the possible answers before we think about it. Because recent research on the subject sheds light on the evolution of feathers. On his trip to the Galapagos Charles Darwincollecting mockingbird specimens from different islands in this region, discovered that only one species of mockingbird lived on each island.

After the separation of their regions, these birds developed different characteristics in terms of color, behavior and beak shape over time. This discovery brings to mind the question: How does the region of a species affect its evolution?

Do birds in the tropics really evolve to be more colorful?

To find the answer to this question University of Okinawa Science and Technology Institute, Dr. Nicholas Friedman It helps. As part of his research with his colleague Vladimír Remeš from Palacký University in Czechia, Friedman embarked on a journey to Australia. His goal was to learn the answer to this question that we were also wondering about.

Australia is a very special region, home to a diversity of life not found anywhere else in the world. Australia has been around for so long isolation from the rest of the world It also makes it an excellent region for evolutionary studies.

Birds that emerged in Australia began to evolve here.

Friedman began his work by examining bird specimens from different parts of Australia at the Australian National Wildlife Collection. In total from two main songbird families 137 different types examined. According to the study, songbirds that emerged in Australia about 30 million years ago began to diversify there before spreading to the rest of the world.

The familial relationships of the bird species Friedman studied were compared according to a DNA-based evolutionary tree. A special instrument was then used to measure the colors found in certain parts of the birds. Birds can see a wider range of colors than humans, and many even In addition to the “visible” spectrum, it can also see colors in the UV (ultraviolet) spectrum.

Therefore This difference in color may be more pronounced for birds than it is for humans. Finally, he used satellite data to describe the geographic area in which the species lived. He looked at the vegetation, rainfall and humidity of each region and combined this data with evolutionary relationships and color measurements.

The results of the study show that birds in the tropics do not develop colorful plumage compared to their cousins ​​living in more temperate climates.

“When you look at the birds in the tropics, of course, many colorful bird species stand out. However, there are more species overall in these areas; which means that there are actually as many small brown birds as living in those regions. Birds in the harsh, barren climates of the interior of Australia were more ornate than those on the lush, wet tropical islands.” explains Friedman. Desert birds have to fight their mates during the rainy season. develops colors to attract mates faster are thought to be possible.

Is better camouflage the only explanation for this variety of colors?

migratory birds

While migratory birds are lighter in color, birds in tropical regions with more rainfall are generally darker in color. “There is a very distinct pattern” says Friedman in his report. “While birds living in the desert have more gray tones on their backs, this color turns dark green in forest birds; We think they are trying to blend in with the background.” This is also an example of natural selection, in that the better camouflaged survive and pass on their genes. Friedman explains, “This is the basis of the diversity of life forms and the evolution of living things with different characteristics.” So the answer to the question is “yes”. The fact that they adapt better to the region they are in seems to be the mainstay of this color diversity.

Another reason why migratory birds are not colored is to be protected from the heat.

As a result of research developing lighter feather colorsis seen as one of the possible ways to prevent overheating while migrating. In addition, as a result of researches, it has been found that feather colors become lighter as birds migrate.

In short, while adapting to the region they are in, at the same time, they diversity in terms of nutritional source may also be a factor in this color balance. In the rainforest, having colors that stand out from the crowd is a way to set themselves apart from other species as well.