COLOURFUL BIRDS.

According to a recent study, birds that live closer to the equator are generally more colorful than their counterparts in more northern or southern regions. Researchers used digital photos of over 4,500 songbird species from around the world to objectively measure the shade, intensity, and range of plumage colors. They found that colorfulness was highest at the equator and decreased towards the poles. The researchers theorize that the abundance of food and lack of energy spent on keeping warm in tropical environments may have allowed tropical species to develop more elaborate plumage. Additionally, the high number of songbird species in tropical forests may have led to the need for brighter colors to help birds distinguish themselves when looking for a mate. The study also suggests that tropical fruit-eating bird species have more carotenoids in their diet, which allows them to produce more brilliant colors. Further research is needed to determine if other forms of life follow the same pattern. [Extracted from the article]