Science & Environment
A hummingbird's brilliant magenta feathers depend on a hidden middle layer
Source: Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories · Published
The brilliant magenta feathers on the head and throat of a male Anna's hummingbird present an optical puzzle. Magenta cannot be produced by a single wavelength of light. Instead, the feathers reflect a mixture of red and blue. Scientists understood the strong red reflection, but
The brilliant magenta feathers on the head and throat of a male Anna's hummingbird present an optical puzzle. Magenta cannot be produced by a single wavelength of light. Instead, the feathers reflect a mixture of red and blue.
Scientists understood the strong red reflection, but the weaker blue component was harder to explain.
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