Why Are Tropical Birds So Colorful? New Study Sheds Light

A family tree encompassing 9,409 bird species has enabled scientists to uncover why the tropics host such a diverse array of colorful birds and how these vibrant colors have evolved and dispersed over time.

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A blue-headed sunbird in the Albertine Rift: an example of a tropical bird with iridescent, colorful feathers. Credit: John Bates, Field Museum

Interesting article. So I suppose a related question is: why do non-tropical regions favour a more drab plumage?

Bubblecar said:

Interesting article. So I suppose a related question is: why do non-tropical regions favour a more drab plumage?

Greater need for murky camouflage, it’s not quantum science.

Bubblecar said:

Interesting article. So I suppose a related question is: why do non-tropical regions favour a more drab plumage?

The article suggests that iridescence and colour is an innate feature of birds, which would mean the non-tropical birds have lost the feature.

I would assume that in a tropical environment with lots of environmental niches and therefore species to take advantage of those niches, bright colours would be very useful for mating purposes.

In non-tropical areas with fewer species, the colour is not as required and would attract more predators than potential mates.

I live in a non-tropical area and there are heaps of colorful birds.
There are also many birds in the tropic that are not colourful.

Birdsong is more important than colouration, to my mind.