Feather Coloration

Malayan Peacock-Pheasant (Polyplectron malacense) Feathers ©WikiC

Malayan Peacock-Pheasant (Polyplectron malacense) Feathers ©WikiC

Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich? (Job 39:13 KJV)

Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, You will be like the wings of a dove covered with silver, And her feathers with yellow gold.” (Psalms 68:13 NKJV)

and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “A great eagle with large wings and long pinions, Full of feathers of various colors, Came to Lebanon And took from the cedar the highest branch. (Ezekiel 17:3 NKJV)

Our Lord Jesus Christ has created an amazing array of colored feathers to clothe our avian friends. Found these intesting facts in the following book:

Feather Colors (by Dr Roger Lederer)

Good ground - American Yellow Warbler (Dendroica aestiva) by J Fenton

Good ground – American Yellow Warbler (Dendroica aestiva) by J Fenton

“The colors of feathers are produced in two ways: pigment and structure.

Brown, gray, yellow, black, tan, orange, and related colors are caused by pigments in the feathers.”

Brevard Zoo 120913 by Lee

Red-crested Turaco (Tauraco erythrolophus) Brevard Zoo by Lee

“The turaco family of Africa contains red and green copper pigments found in no other animal. Int other birds, different pigments combined with light refraction produce such colors.”

Australian King Parrot (Alisterus scapularis) Female by Ian

Australian King Parrot (Alisterus scapularis) Female by Ian

“Bluebird blue, parrot green, white, metallic red, and iridescence are produced by the structure of the feather. To produce blue color, brown granules in the barbs of the feather scatter light–red and yellow wavelengths pass through the granules, while blue is reflected.”

Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) for ajmithra's article

Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides)

“If your find a feather from a blue bird–a bluebird or jay, for example–look at the feather in your hand: it will appear blue. Then hold the feather up to the light and look through it; it will appear brown.”

(From – “Feather Colors”, p.83, The Amazing Bird Facts and Trivia by Dr Roger Lederer)

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All About Birds – Color

All About Birds – Feathers and Plumages

Why Are Some Feathers Blue? – Smithsonian

How Do Birds Get Their Color? – 10,000 Birds

Feather – Wikipedia

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P.S. There will be no “Sunday Inspiration” this week. I am getting ready to take my computer apart. We will be painting and re-flooring this room. There are articles scheduled for Mon, Wed, and Thur. Should be back up and running by Friday, May 2nd. I will still be able to check “comments” and “likes” via a laptop. Thank you for your support. Lord Bless all of you who visit this site.

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2 thoughts on “Feather Coloration

    • My computer “fasting” continues. The room is painted and the new floor gets placed in 3 rooms Thur. Then the computer will come out of hiding. :)

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