Book 17, Question 56
Why Are So Many Rainforest Birds Brightly Colored?
Rainforest birds wear bright colors to send messages! Colors help birds find friends, show they are healthy, and tell their own kind from look-alikes. In a dim, busy forest, bright feathers stand out.
More fun facts
- Darwin thought bright colors in male birds help them win a mate.
- Some studies show females use a male's brightness as a sign of good health.
- Most birds do not make their own color pigments.
- Parrots are the only birds known to make bright colors in their special way.
- Scientists still study whether colors are mostly for mates or for survival.
Sources: Science News Explores, Smithsonian Magazine, Scientific American
Questions kids ask
Why might a female bird pick a bright male?
Some studies show females use a male's brightness as a sign of good health.