Many animals undergo seasonal color changes as an adaptation for survival. These changes typically serve two main purposes: camouflage and breeding success. For example:
- Arctic foxes turn white in winter for snow camouflage
- Snowshoe hares shift from brown to white as seasons change
- Ptarmigans change plumage colors seasonally
These changes are typically triggered by changing daylight hours (photoperiod), not temperature. The process involves hormonal changes that affect pigment production in fur or feathers. Some animals, like ermine and Arctic hares, undergo this transformation twice yearly – growing white fur for winter and brown fur for summer.