Do birds have a favourite colour?

This was a field-based experiment to attempt to answer a question: Do birds have a favourite colour? Four coloured feeders (dark blue, green, yellow and red) and a clear control were used. The number of visits and the mass change in the feeders was recorded so preferences could be gauged. The results show a clear trend for blue being the preferred colour; red and yellow were unpopular.We suggest that this is because high energy colours (blue and UV) are used by birds in short distance communication; blue is also in the middle of the birds’ visual spectrum. We also suggest that red and yellow were unpopular because they are employed for aposematic colouration (toxins) in insects.Applications of this research could include influencing the design of turbines or aeroplanes, to deter birds.

Contestants

George Rabin

Edward James Thurlow