Book 31, Question 11
Why can birds see colors we can’t?
Your eyes have three kinds of color-detecting cells, but many birds have four.
The extra kind lets them see ultraviolet light, a color our eyes cannot see. Some bird feathers and fruits have patterns that glow in ultraviolet. That means two birds that look alike to you may look very different to each other, and a berry may stand out like a shiny sign.
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Quick answers
Why can birds see colors we can’t?
The result is that birds not only see UV light, they are much better than humans at detecting differences between two similar colors.
Source: National Wildlife Federation
More fun facts
- By contrast, birds active during the day have four kinds, including one that’s specifically sensitive to UV wavelengths.
- Birds rely on vision to choose mates, find food and scan for predators, for example.
- Parent birds may rely on UV signals when they’re off finding food as well.
- During the past three decades, a flurry of studies has tested the intriguing notion that mate choice and other bird behaviors may be shaped by secret visual signals humans cannot see.
Sources: National Wildlife Federation
Questions kids ask
Do bird feathers reflect ultraviolet light?
Scientists also have learned that many birds have plumage that reflects UV light.
Source: National Wildlife Federation