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Ornithological Studies Presentation
Iridescence in Feathers

by Colin Campbell

Colors in bird feathers are the result of either:

• Natural pigmentation
• Iridescence resulting from the interaction of light and the structure of the feathers.
  • A feather has rachis, barbs and barbules.
  • The flat barbules have a medullar central layer, an outer cortex layer and a surface keratin layer.
  • Interference of light occurs between air, kertain, and melanin.
  • The color depends upon the distance between the melanin rods.

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