Eggshell pigment composition covaries with phylogeny but not with life history or with nesting ecology traits of British passerines
No single hypothesis is likely to explain the diversity in eggshell coloration and patterning
across birds, suggesting that eggshell appearance is most likely to have evolved to fulfill …
across birds, suggesting that eggshell appearance is most likely to have evolved to fulfill …
Why are birds' eggs colourful? Eggshell pigments co-vary with life-history and nesting ecology among British breeding non-passerine birds
The colourful appearance of bird eggshells has long fascinated biologists and considerable
research effort has focused on the structure and biochemistry of the avian eggshell matrix …
research effort has focused on the structure and biochemistry of the avian eggshell matrix …
Not so colourful after all: eggshell pigments constrain avian eggshell colour space
Birds' eggshells are renowned for their striking colours and varied patterns. Although often
considered exceptionally diverse, we report that avian eggshell coloration, sampled here …
considered exceptionally diverse, we report that avian eggshell coloration, sampled here …
Variability in avian eggshell colour: a comparative study of museum eggshells
Background The exceptional diversity of coloration found in avian eggshells has long
fascinated biologists and inspired a broad range of adaptive hypotheses to explain its …
fascinated biologists and inspired a broad range of adaptive hypotheses to explain its …
Intra-clutch variation in avian eggshell pigmentation covaries with female quality
Among the most eye-catching traits of avian eggs are their background coloration and
pigmentation, consisting in many passerine birds of dark protoporphyrin spots. Although …
pigmentation, consisting in many passerine birds of dark protoporphyrin spots. Although …
Avian eggshell coloration: new perspectives on adaptive explanations
Recent work suggests that the evolution of egg coloration may have been constrained in
three important ways that have not yet been critically synthesized in any review. First, on …
three important ways that have not yet been critically synthesized in any review. First, on …
Avian eggshell pigments are not consistently correlated with colour measurements or egg constituents in two Turdus thrushes
The colourful appearance of avian eggshells is a prominent aspect of maternal reproductive
effort in birds. Some differences in eggshell coloration have been reported to co‐vary with …
effort in birds. Some differences in eggshell coloration have been reported to co‐vary with …
Why are birds' eggs speckled?
Birds are unique in laying eggs with pigmented shells, but for most species (eg most
passerines, which lay white eggs speckled with reddish spots of protoporphyrin) the …
passerines, which lay white eggs speckled with reddish spots of protoporphyrin) the …
Eggshell spotting does not predict male incubation but marks thinner areas of a shorebird's shells
Many birds lay eggs speckled with black or reddish-brown spots of protoporphyrin pigment,
but the function of these spots is debated. Two recent hypotheses have received …
but the function of these spots is debated. Two recent hypotheses have received …
Effect of light intensity in the nest site on eggshell pigmentation in a hole-nesting passerine
Daylight is an important factor necessary for the proper embryonic development of birds,
which raises the question, what happens when birds nest in relatively dim sites? The study …
which raises the question, what happens when birds nest in relatively dim sites? The study …