There is a fairly recent book available titled "Bird coloration" by Geoffrey Hill, a National Geographic publication. If you've ever wondered how birds get the colors they have, this book explains a lot of it in an easy to read and understand style. We are frequently asked the question of food vs genetics regarding the color of roseate spoonbills. It turns out that it's both. the red pigment that ends up in the feathers of the spoonbills is not manufactured in their body but is obtained from their food, however many other birds eat a similar diet and remain white. The spoonbills are genetically disposed to utilize that pigment in their feathers and the pigment is not uniformaly distributed, more intense in some areas than others, also genetically determined. It's an interesting book. Dick Stilwell W Des Moines and Bonita Springs
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