Science and the Blue Bird

Did you know that Bluebirds really aren't blue?

No, I haven't become colorblind! I read an article in Mother Earth News magazine (august/September 2010) and they said:

"...They do not get their color from pigments. Neither do blue jays or indigo buntings. If you were to grind up their feathers you would find the color to be ashen grey.

Their color is a 'structural color'- the blue color comes about when light is scattered and reflected by tiny structures within each feather's microscopic barbules. Thus the blue birds feathers reflect short-wave length blue light, creating the lovely blue that we see.

In nature the color blue among vertebrates is almost always structural (light reflecting), while oranges, reds and yellows are pigment based generally. The hummingbird is an exception- his colors are light reflecting! if you look at a blue bird or hummingbird at different angles you'll see different colors!"

Check it out the next time you see one!

So now you know something interesting you can use at parties and the kids can use for science class!