Winter – Birds Changing colour
A slow change in colour comes to some birds during winter.
They moult in late summer and gain a new set of feathers. These feathers are often drab and plain as they are wearing their non-breeding plumage.
At the end of winter the tips of feathers wear away on some male birds and show brighter colours underneath.
For example – male chaffinches become brighter and have pink cheeks and blue heads.
This is why sometimes it is difficult to recognise birds as they ‘change colour’ at different times of the year.
Makes bird watching and feeding a bit more complicated and a bit more interesting.
on December 10th, 2009 at 7:42 am
Hi
Found an interesting article on bird feeding in winter which I have included on my website at http://www.thehyggehut.co.uk/advent_calendar_3_dec_feed_the_birds.html. Not sure about using a submersible heater for the bird bath is the greenest idea. I had heard that a cork or tennis ball also works but hasn’t been cold enough yet to find out!
Mairi