target for predators

[hughredcanary]

Hi I am puzzled and very interested in finding out the resin why the
moorhen chicks are so conspicuous in having such brilliant red papillae

around their eyes, a bright red bill, and bald red head for the first
three weeks, surely it makes them a target for predators, also the wing

of the chicks looks more like a hook than a wing.
I recently read this it relates to coots but also moorhens, many birds
have bright, ornamental plumage. Most often it is displayed by the male

of the species, who is believed to use the plumage to attract females.
The female may select male breeding partners on the basis of this
feather advertisement, perhaps assessing their health. According to
evolutionary theory, it helps the female to choose a strong, healthy
male to be the father of her chicks, not only because the male helps to

feed them but also because the chicks will carry dad's healthy genes.
Darwin labelled such mate choice "sexual selection." Another possible
form of plumage selection has been studied by biologists in Canada.
They
think that the parents of certain bird species may select the
"prettiest" chicks out of a nest as favourites and feed them better
(why
they might do this is an interesting question).
American coots are birds that live in the marshes of western North
America. As adults they are greyish-black and have a spot of white on
their bills. The chicks are unusual, for unlike most birds whose
nestlings are usually drab, coot chicks are surprisingly conspicuous.
They have long, orange-tipped, slender feathers, brilliant red papillae

around their eyes, a bright red bill, and bald red head. The chicks
lose
this colorful appearance at three weeks. The Canadian biologists
speculated that the plumage may make some chicks more attractive to
their parents; possibly the most "attractive" chicks might be able to
successfully beg for more food from their parents and have a better
chance of survival. That seemed possible since sometimes one-half of
all
chicks died from starvation. But how could the authors test such an
unusual notion?
But it doesn’t explain why such an evolution adaptation, do you have
any
ideas.
Hugh

http://hughsphotoshop.com/

[ron1863]

Possibly because red is a danger sign in nature to predators.