Why are kingfishers so brightly coloured?

FUDGEY · #1 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 07:16 PM

Someone asked me today why they are the colour they are and I couldn't give a factual answer. Does anyone know or have any theories as to why?

evilgrayson · #2 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 08:18 PM

Because Mrs. Kingfisher wants a brightly-coloured husband to show off to all her friends?

FUDGEY · #3 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 10:17 PM

Lol better guess than I could give.

ron1863 · #4 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 11:06 PM

So that they look nice in photographs

Dutchess · #5 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 11:10 PM

Interesting! As I know next to nothing about the glorious Kingfisher, I shall hazard a guess. Perhaps their colours attract the fish on which they prey?

tcvarlh · #6 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 11:21 PM

But you may as well ask why Ravens are glossy black or Swans White (northern Hem) IT JUST IS. Perhaps as the story goes...that's the way they're made...
h

Dutchess · #7 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evilgrayson

Because Mrs. Kingfisher wants a brightly-coloured husband to show off to all her friends?

I like this one lol!

D.

Jason Green · #8 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 11:43 PM

Hi all,

Yes, interesting question. This, from the BBC nature website:

Quote:

Kingfishers are one of Britain’s most interesting birds. Their vivid colour is iridescence, not pigment – the pigment is actually dark brown! Interference between different wavelengths of light reflected from different layers of the feathers produces blues, greens and oranges. The feathers on the bird’s back can seem blue or green depending on the angle at which they are viewed.

Well, I didn't know that

Take care,

Jason

tcvarlh · #9 (**permalink**) 23-09-2009, 01:40 AM

The question has me interested and although I am at the moment no nearer a solution I did find this
Darwin Correspondence Project - Letter 5515 — Wallace, A. R. to Darwin, C. R., 26 Apr [1867]

worth a read

h

thebeard · #10 (**permalink**) 23-09-2009, 05:27 PM

i should think it has something to do with sexual selection, just like other brightly coloured forms of bird (peacock, bird of paradise, capercaille etc) (along with other animals). brighter colours and better plumage means better genes! it also can mean that animals with bright colours who have avoided predation long enough to reproduce are better suitors for females as it shows they are strong and able to avoid being killed, so these strong genes will get passed on to offspring. not sure if this is he case with kingfishers as i don't know whether they have any natural predators, apart from cats and perhaps BOP's?