tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596499451041435250.post272609560631365183..comments2024-02-17T13:09:48.341-08:00Comments on Northwest Nature Notes: WAXWINGS, THE SMOOTHEST BIRDSSlater Museum of Natural Historyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09060874877227806320noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596499451041435250.post-54369252572369970612013-03-12T17:16:57.866-07:002013-03-12T17:16:57.866-07:00Quinci, fruit does affect the color of their tail ...Quinci, fruit does affect the color of their tail tip. It becomes oranger when they have a diet of some kinds of fruits containing high concentrations of carotenoid pigments.<br /><br />Anonymous, we don't know of any benefits conferred by the dark masks, but it may be just to identify them (to others of their species) as waxwings. Dark colors around the eyes may also reduce sun reflections from those feathers, improving their vision on bright, sunny days.<br />Dennis Paulsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596499451041435250.post-47390567871232510222013-02-20T11:59:43.249-08:002013-02-20T11:59:43.249-08:00They really do look smooth. Is there any benefit t...They really do look smooth. Is there any benefit to the species for the dark masks around their eyes? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596499451041435250.post-37595544444750613312013-02-18T11:49:18.944-08:002013-02-18T11:49:18.944-08:00What an interesting-looking bird! Does the type of...What an interesting-looking bird! Does the type of fruit it eats affect the color of its feathers?Quincinoreply@blogger.com