A central goal of animal ecology is to observe species in the natural world. The cost and
challenge of data collection often limit the breadth and scope of ecological study. Ecologists …

Birds exhibit remarkable variation in plumage patterns, both within individual feathers and
among plumage patches. Differences in the size, shape, and location of pigments and …

Birds are the only living amniotes with coloured eggs,,–, which have long been considered
to be an avian innovation,. A recent study has demonstrated the presence of both red-brown …

Animal coloration patterns, from zebra stripes to bird egg speckles, are remarkably varied.
With research on the perception, function, and evolution of animal patterns growing rapidly …

Calibrated digital photography is frequently used in studies focusing on avian eggshell
appearance to measure colour and pattern features. Photographs are often taken in natural …

The pigments responsible for eggshell color and patterning in birds are protoporphyrin IX
(PP) and biliverdin (BV). Both are involved in the catalytic degradation of the hemo group …

Camouflage is a widespread strategy to avoid predation and is of particular importance for
animals with reduced mobility or those in exposed habitats. Camouflage often relies on …

The nests of ground‐nesting birds rely heavily on camouflage for their survival, and
predation risk, often linked to ecological changes from human activity, is a major source of …

Protoporphyrin (PP) and biliverdin (BV) give rise to the enormous diversity in avian egg
coloration. Egg color serves several ecological purposes, including post-mating signaling …

Plumage patterns of melanerpine (Melanerpes-Sphyrapicus) woodpeckers are strikingly
diverse. Understanding the evolution and function of this diversity is challenging because of …