Eurasian woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) has become the bird with the whitest feathers ever analyzed by science, according to a new study. It should be said that White color it has many nuances. The ideal goal should be one that can reflect 100% of light what falls on it, and black on the contrary: it absorbs it. So to measure how white something is, the percentage of reflected light is calculated. In the case of the feathers of this bird, it is 55%.
This may not seem like much when you consider that paints have already been created that can reflect 98% of the light. However, this is unusual in the case of bird feathers. In fact, the Eurasian woodcock reflects 30% more light than any other bird measured so far.
And the funny thing is not a white bird. It has only a few whitish spots on its tail, which are used by both males and females for their mating rituals. They seek to shine to find a mate, and since they live under a canopy that prevents much light from reaching their feathers, they need to optimize what they reflect.
White is close to perfection
Usually, the Eurasian woodcock hides its white feathers under the rest of the plumage, rather brown. This will help you camouflage between leaves and ground from the ground in search of worms.
However, scientists have noticed that both males and females display these white spots in their mating rituals. AND shine enough. For this reason, the authors of the study, which is now being published in Royal Society interface they took some of these white feathers and analyzed them using various methods.
First, they turned to electron microscopy to analyze its structure. Then, using spectrophotometry, they were able to measure light reflectance. And finally, they used optical modeling, which allowed them to see how light interacts within the plume.
Thus they saw that the white coloration of the Eurasian woodcock is especially white. much more than Caspian tern (hydroproject of the caspian), which still holds the record.
How do they manage to reflect so much light?
The test results showed that, on a microscopic level, feathers contain laminar structures clustered together like louvers, which increase the area available for reflection and prevent light loss between cracks within the feather. In addition, they contain a network of keratin nanofibers and air chambers that help guide light in all directions. Thus, they manage to reflect 55% of the light, showing bright white spots, which are very useful in courtship.
It should be noted that the study of white animals in nature is of interest in view of the search for whiter targets. In fact, this is something that has been done for a long time. For example, one of the paintings that reflects the most light was based on the structure of a particular species of beetle.
nature can give us many ideas. And the truth is, it’s good that we’re looking at them, because white can help us save a lot on air conditioning while we fight climate change. This bird, with its 55% light reflectance, may not be the best animal to inspire, but at least it leads the way among birds. This is also interesting.
Source: Hiper Textual
