The result: blue, an example of what scientists call a structural color (as opposed to a pigmented color) because it’s generated by light interacting with a feather’s 3-D arrangement.

Instead, the blue color of their plumage is all optics and is created by the way light waves interact with their feathers. Here are 16 types of blue birds that have managed to express all different shades of blue. 1. Blue Grosbeak. Scientific name: Passerina caerulea.

Jun 30, 2016 · The graphic below explains why you see blue in feathers. Visible light strikes the feathers and encounters the keratin-air nanostructures. The size of the nanostructure matches that of the wavelength of blue light.

Jul 7, 2023 · The blue color we see is created through the interaction of light and nanostructures in the feathers consisting of air and keratin that reflect blue light. Next time you see a species of blue bird, note how the color looks different in variable lighting conditions, and …

Dec 5, 2023 · A typical Blue Jay feather is not fully blue, as it will also have a white tip along the feather, horizontal patterns of black as well as browning of the sides, depending on the part of the bird’s body where the feather came off.

Apr 28, 2016 · The color blue that we see on a bird is created by the way light waves interact with the feathers and their arrangement of protein molecules, called keratin. In other words, blue is a structural color.

Oct 3, 2024 · How could a blue jay feather not be blue? When you see them, they’re clearly the correct color — and ‘blue’ is even in their name. Well, as it turns out, the coloration of blue jay feathers comes not from the birds themselves, but from the structure of their feathers and refractions of light.

May 17, 2023 · Whether you’re a seasoned birder or just starting, birds with blue feathers are sure to delight and amaze. Each of these birds has distinct characteristics and behaviors that make them unique, from stunning colors to melodious calls.

Nov 16, 2023 · Check out this list of over five dozen bird species from around the world with beautiful blue feathers from head to tail!