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Flamingos Apply Natural Make-Up To Their Feathers To Attract Mates: Study

First Posted: 10/26/10 04:58 PM ET Updated: 05/25/11 07:10 PM ET

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Science Centric :

Flamingos apply natural make-up to their feathers to stand out and attract mates, according to a new study by Juan Amat, from the Estacion Biologica de Donana in Seville, Spain, and colleagues. Their research is the first to demonstrate that birds transfer the colour pigments (carotenoids) from the secretions of their uropygial gland for cosmetic reasons.

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Flamingos apply natural make-up to their feathers to stand out and attract mates, according to a new study by Juan Amat, from the Estacion Biologica de Donana in Seville, Spain, and colleagues. Their ...
Flamingos apply natural make-up to their feathers to stand out and attract mates, according to a new study by Juan Amat, from the Estacion Biologica de Donana in Seville, Spain, and colleagues. Their ...
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hdohighdesertobserver
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02:26 PM on 10/27/2010
I dispute that, "birds transfer the colour pigments (carotenoids) from the secretions of their uropygial gland for cosmetic reasons". I don't think birds feel pretty afterward. There's no motive involved.

They do it because they're wired to do it. It drew the attention of the opposite sex and led to mating. The behavior was passed on to progeny who were in turn successful in mating. It's natural selection and evolution.
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