Reproduction is a critical period for birds as they have to cope with many stressful events.
One consequence of an acute exposure to stress is the release of corticosterone, the avian …

Physiological constraints on colouration have been widely reported; especially in birds,
which trade-off antioxidant responses against colourful costly signals. One female extended …

Variation in blue‐green and brown coloration of avian eggshells could be affected by
several factors, including environmental nutritional constraints. Better availability of nutrients …

Avian eggs exhibit a large variability in coloration and patterns, which are produced by blue-
green biliverdin and red-brown protoporphyrin pigments. Several hypotheses have been …

SUMMARY A relationship has been suggested between eggshell colour and female body
condition based on the opposing antioxidant properties of the two main eggshell pigments …

Egg camouflage may explain the adaptive significance of avian eggshell pigmentation in
ground-nesting species. Eggshell maculation (spots) is predominantly due to …

We explore the relationship between general eggshell colour (background and spots) and
proportion of surface covered by spots on the eggs of blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus and …

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 …

Avian egg colour has been explained as mainly serving crypsis or mimetism, although the
function of certain colours (eg blue and green) has not yet been demonstrated. We interpret …

Avian eggshell pigmentation may provide information about a female's physiological
condition, in particular her state of oxidative balance. Previously we found that female House …