The Secret World of Pink Owls

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pink feathers

created by Steve Burgess w/ chatGPT

Nocturnal Pink

Owls are pink! That is, if you see in ultraviolet.

  • Pink pigment = porphyrin

  • Especially prominent after molting

  • Degrades when exposed to sunlight

Scientists haven’t confirmed if owls can perceive the shades of pink, though UV communication has been observed in other bird species. Future research will determine how prevalent pink perception is among the wise birds. What a hoot!

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