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The meaning of purely structural colour: white plumage reflectance indicates feather condition
Author(s) -
Laczi Miklós,
Balogh Julia,
Nardou Xavier,
Török János,
Hegyi Gergely
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/ibi.12902
Subject(s) - plumage , feather , reflectivity , white (mutation) , biology , wing , passerine , zoology , ecology , optics , biochemistry , physics , engineering , gene , aerospace engineering
White plumage areas are widespread among birds but the mechanisms generating individual differences in white feather reflectance are poorly known. Additionally, the proximate mechanisms of within‐season feather colour changes in general are also poorly known. Here we explored within‐individual changes in macrostructure and reflectance of the white wing‐patch of female Collared Flycatchers Ficedula albicollis using data from three stages within a breeding season. Changes in brightness and UV chroma were related to changes in the neatness and size of reflective surfaces, respectively. This suggests that white feather reflectance traits may act as indicators of feather intactness and preening activity.