How Hummingbirds Perceive Colors Beyond Human Vision
Imagine a world where colors blend in ways that humans cannot perceive. For hummingbirds, this is a reality. Recent studies reveal that these birds can detect colors mixed with ultraviolet light, a capability far beyond human vision.
Humans have three types of cone receptors in their eyes that enable them to see red, blue, and green. When these colors mix, they create “nonspectral colors,” like purple, the only such color humans can see. Hummingbirds, however, possess an additional cone that allows them to see ultraviolet light.
Research led by Mary Stoddard from Princeton University sought to understand if hummingbirds could recognize colors that combine ultraviolet with other colors like red or green. In experiments conducted at Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Biological Station, two bird feeders were set up. One contained sugar water, the other just water, with each feeder illuminated by LED lights displaying different colors.
The broad-tailed hummingbirds involved in the study quickly learned to associate certain color combinations with the sugary reward, distinguishing between regular colors and those mixed with ultraviolet light.
Scientists suggest that many nonspectral colors are embedded in nature, such as in flower petals and bird feathers. Hummingbirds, alongside other birds, reptiles, and fish, can see these hidden shades, painting their world with intricate colors humans can only dream of. This trait possibly dates back to the age of dinosaurs.
This fascinating insight into avian vision was first shared on August 12, 2020, by Melissa Sevigny, produced by KNAU and the Sustainable Communities Program at Northern Arizona University.
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