Why are tropical birds so colourful?
First, there are 2 things that help them evolve these vibrant colors: they have plenty of food available the whole year, and the temperature is stable.
Second, food. They basically eat fruits that have an organic pigment that accumulates in their feathers, and this makes them colourful. They eat mangoes and cherries like acerola or tucumã, which are full of carotenoids, which is a group of yellow, orange and red organic pigments. They can't make these pigments themselves, so they get them from their food.
So, in tropical areas, the climate is stable, which gives birds more chances to mate and find food, and these facts boost their energy. As you can imagine, more energy means more colourful feathers!
We know that thanks to a study that analysed thousands of bird pictures. Now, we need to find out if we can apply these findings to other creatures like flowers, insects, and fish.
#terramater #animal #naturedocumentaries #terramatters #didyouknow #nature #wildlife #wildlifedocumentary #animalfacts #birds #tropicalbird #parrot #toucanbird #southamerica #jungle #birdsofyoutube