Hidden dichromatism in the Burrowing Parrot (Cyanoliseus patagonus) as revealed by spectrometric colour analysis - Research portal of Justus Liebig University Giessen:

Journal article

Hidden dichromatism in the Burrowing Parrot (Cyanoliseus patagonus) as revealed by spectrometric colour analysis

Authors list: Masello, JF; Lubjuhn, T; Quillfeldt, P

Publication year: 2009

Pages: 47-55

Journal: El Hornero : revista de la Asociación Ornitológica del Plata para el Estudio y Protección de las Aves de la Argentina y Paises Vecinos

Volume number: 24

Issue number: 1

URL: http://www.scielo.org.ar/pdf/hornero/v24n1/v24n1a08.pdf

Publisher: Asociación Ornitológica del Plata para el Estudio y Protección de las Aves de la Argentina y Paises Vecinos

Abstract:

Bird colour perception differs fundamentally from that of humans. Birds have more cone types in the retina, including UV or violet cones, which enable them to perceive a wider spectral range. Thus, human colour perception can be deceiving when assessing functional aspects of bird plumage coloration, such as the intensity of sexual selection. In this study we measured reflectance spectra of different plumage regions of male and female Burrowing Parrot (Cyanoliseus patagonus) individuals. Although not obvious to human eyes, spectrometry revealed that adults are sexually dichromatic. Plumage regions with structure-based (blue) and structure-psittacofulvin pigment-based (green) coloration differed in achromatic brightness. In contrast, the psittacofulvin-based (red) region differed in spectral shape between the sexes. Thus, Burrowing Parrot is among the growing number of bird species which were formerly classed as sexually monochromatic based on human vision, but which are actually sexually dichromatic.

Authors/Editors

- Uni.-Prof. Dr. Petra Quillfeldt

Citation Styles

Harvard Citation style: Masello, J., Lubjuhn, T. and Quillfeldt, P. (2009) Hidden dichromatism in the Burrowing Parrot (Cyanoliseus patagonus) as revealed by spectrometric colour analysis, El Hornero : revista de la Asociación Ornitológica del Plata para el Estudio y Protección de las Aves de la Argentina y Paises Vecinos, 24(1), pp. 47-55. http://www.scielo.org.ar/pdf/hornero/v24n1/v24n1a08.pdf

APA Citation style: Masello, J., Lubjuhn, T., & Quillfeldt, P. (2009). Hidden dichromatism in the Burrowing Parrot (Cyanoliseus patagonus) as revealed by spectrometric colour analysis. El Hornero : revista de la Asociación Ornitológica del Plata para el Estudio y Protección de las Aves de la Argentina y Paises Vecinos. 24(1), 47-55. http://www.scielo.org.ar/pdf/hornero/v24n1/v24n1a08.pdf