Birds of a dazzling feather

Writer: Anina Lee.

Ever since I owned a pet Rainbow Lorikeet, I have been fascinated by the colours of birds. Apart from their magnificent looks, lorikeets are also highly intelligent, as are all parrots. But that’s another story.

Knysna Turaco PHOTO: Chris Peterson

Across the world, tribal peoples have used the plumes of the birds they hunted to decorate themselves. Feathers have been a sign of status in western societies too. Birds flaunt a variety of eye-catching plumage and we are amazed at the vibrant colours every time we see a flashy bird. But have you ever stopped to think about how and why these creatures get to be so dazzling?

Lilac Breasted Roller PHOTO: Ted Schifferman Photography

Rainbow Lorikeet PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons

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