Journal
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
Volume 217, Issue 21, Pages 3775-3778Publisher
COMPANY OF BIOLOGISTS LTD
DOI: 10.1242/jeb.107573
Keywords
Colour vision; Cavity-nesting bird; Conditioning experiment; Egg coloration; Bird coloration; Communication
Categories
Funding
- National Agency for Research [09-JCJC-0050-01]
- Languedoc-Roussillon region Promising Researchers program
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Many vertebrates use colour vision for vital behaviour but their visual performance in dim light is largely unknown. The light intensity threshold of colour vision is known only for humans, horses and two parrot species. Here, we first explore this threshold in a passerine bird, the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus). Using classic conditioning of colour cues to food rewards in three individuals, we find a threshold ranging from 0.05 to 0.2 cd m(-2). Results are comparable to the two previously tested bird species. For tits, nest light conditions probably exceed that threshold, at least after sunrise. These results shed new light on the lively debate questioning the visual performance of cavity nesters and the evolutionary significance of egg and chick coloration. Although this needs further investigation, it is possible that blue tits exploit both colour and brightness cues when viewing their eggs, chicks or conspecifics in their nests.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available