There will be no more shiny shiny feathers, birds are gradually becoming 'fade' literally

Bird traits such as color act as a signal to other birds of their own worth. However, climate change is causing birds to become paler and less colorful

 Specifically, these changes are dulling the eye-catching feathers of feathered friends, which often rely on colorful plumage to attract mates.

It is also feared that this phenomenon is reducing the number of new bird species.

The increase in temperature makes the hair color less colorful

Bird traits such as color act as a signal to other birds of their own value, and even humans look at the color of feathers to determine the quality of the offspring, its health.

The finds are based on the iconic blue plumage, famous for its striking blue crest and yellow breasts. Two bird populations in the South of France - one on the outskirts of Montpellier and the other in Corsica - were followed for 15 years, determining the average degree of color loss in both groups from 2005 to 2019.

Picture 1 of There will be no more shiny shiny feathers, birds are gradually becoming 'fade' literally

Climate change is causing birds to become less colorful.

The study's lead author, Lopez-Idiaquez, said the work suggests that environmental changes and climate change in particular may be the main reason why species such as the green gorilla are particularly altered. body points, brightness and color intensity. Another negative trend is the brightness and intensity of colors in both sexes and populations, which change is more related to climate.

The change in plumage color seems to be the result of a combination of increased temperatures (about 1.23 degrees Celsius) and reduced rainfall (0.64 mm), so climate change would be a potential cause. of this difference.

Besides, the color difference between the sexes in birds is also known, called "sex dichroism". Darwin had also previously observed women's preference for bright colors in men and became part of his "theory of evolution".

Affect the life of birds

Each year during this long-term study, all breeding Blue tit birds were collected, generating more than 5,800 observations of color and other characteristics. Birds' color diversity is one of nature's aesthetic wonders, but changing plumage makes the world much less bright.

Picture 2 of There will be no more shiny shiny feathers, birds are gradually becoming 'fade' literally

Rising temperatures also threaten the life of precious birds.

The team also warned that this color change also affects the mating patterns of the species, putting their presence at risk. When there are other changes in the habitat, the animals can be genetically modified or their physical characteristics change, leading to the migration of birds, or they will disappear altogether.

Lopez-Idiaquez notes that it is important to emphasize that this change is not genetic, but one of the ways of adapting to new environmental conditions. Just like humans, struggling with global warming, birds are also facing similar predicaments.

Other studies also show that birds are adapting to global warming by eliminating distinct traits. They change shape - such as growing larger beaks, which help control body temperature.

Update 16 August 2022
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