[EBB Sightings] House Finch Color Variability Based on Diet

Please note the following Birds of N. Am. online excerpt that indicates the role of caretenoid pigments to the color appearance in HOUSE FINCH:


One of the most striking features of House Finches is their extreme variation in male plumage coloration. In all populations males vary in color from pale yellow to bright red; in addition, the average coloration of males varies substantially among populations. Most notable is the virtual absence of red males on some of the Hawaiian Islands, where the species has been introduced. Males derive their yellow/orange/red coloration from carotenoid pigments in their food, and variation in the expression of male plumage coloration both within and among populations reflects variation in dietary access to carntenoid pigments during molt. Female House Finches prefer to mate with the reddest male available to them, and by choosing to mate with brightly colored males they gain resource benefits during nesting.

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Regards, 

Daniel Edelstein

Novato, CA (Bay Area)

&


Ellison Bay, WI

http://www.warblerwatch.com 

http://warblerwatch.blogspot.com (my blog devoted to wood-warblers)

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