Bird feather coloration comes from two main sources: pigments and structural colors. Pigments like melanin create blacks, browns, and reds, while carotenoids produce yellows, oranges, and some reds. The most interesting colors often come from structural coloration, where the feather’s microscopic structure reflects and refracts light.
This structural coloration creates the:
- Iridescent blues of Blue Jays
- Shimmering greens of hummingbirds
- Brilliant colors of peacock feathers
Birds can also combine both methods – for example, a Green-winged Teal’s wing patches use both structural blue and pigment-based green to create their distinctive appearance.