Birds that change their feather colours for survival
Published on: April 2, 2026, 11:30 p.m. | Source: Times of India
The fashion world, in nature, is constantly changing! Birds are undergoing phenotypic transformations each time they fly back to their nests, but feather replacement isn't only done during the breeding period. Many birds perform a wide range of feather replacements due to natural changes during the year. The first step in this process occurs when birds moult and shed their previous year's high-chroma breeding plumage into cryptic earthy tones to help them blend in with their surroundings. They are triggered by photoperiodic shifts and, therefore, hormones, to change colours from very bright to much softer. Birds observe a careful balance between being visible and visible to potential breeding mates while remaining invisible to predators. The following 7 species each exhibit that creating a new appearance is a way to improve their ability to thrive and survive at a given place and length.
