Animals create their colors through two main mechanisms: pigmentation and structural coloration. Pigments like melanin provide browns and blacks, while carotenoids (often obtained from diet) create yellows and reds. Structural colors are produced by the way light interacts with microscopic structures in feathers, scales, or skin.
For example, blue morpho butterflies aren’t actually pigmented blue – their wing scales have microscopic structures that reflect blue light while absorbing other wavelengths. Similarly, peacock feathers use structural interference to create their iridescent displays. Some animals, like chameleons, can actively change their coloration by adjusting pigment-containing cells called chromatophores.