The bird with the “whitest feathers” ever discovered wasn’t so white after all
March 7, 2023
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Birds communicate not only with sound but also with visual means. One of the greatest tools in visual communication is its own feathers. For this reason, bird species
Birds communicate not only with sound but also with visual means. One of the greatest tools in visual communication is its own feathers. For this reason, bird species living in low-light areas are known to have evolved to have some parts of their tail feathers white. In this way the light reflected in the feathers and communicate with other birds.
Agree, bird with the ‘whitest’ plumage Which? Scientists offered a new answer to this question in their study. Eurasian snipeIt has been announced to have the whitest plumage of any bird species whose whiteness has ever been measured.
It reflects 30% more light than what is known as the ‘whitest’ so far:
By examining the structure of the feathers with an electron microscope, scientists measured how much light was reflected from the white feathers. The results show that this bird’s white plumage is even larger than that of the giant tern, which has the ‘whitest’ plumage to date. Reflects 30% more light showed.
Left: Snipe, Right: Giant Tern
This means that the Eurasian snipe can communicate with each other over longer distances in darker environments. According to scientists, the reason why this tail has such a high reflectance is actually in low-light environments. moretheir evolution to communicate over long distances.
Ashley Johnson is a science writer for “Div Bracket”. With a background in the natural sciences and a passion for exploring the mysteries of the universe, she provides in-depth coverage of the latest scientific developments.