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Created: 2011-02-21
Updated: 2011-02-21

Carotenoids create yellow color: American goldfinch


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Slide_show_arrows  1 of 1 Male (left) and female (right) American Goldfinches / Ken Thomas / LicensePD - Public Domain

The feathers of the American goldfinch appear yellow in color due to carotenoids.

Biomimicry Taxonomy
 
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Taxonomy_2 Modify physical state >
Taxonomy_3 Light/color
Biomimetic Application Ideas
 
Ultraviolet reflectance, pigmentation, coloration, structural coloring.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary
"The coloration of feathers can be caused by carotenoids (usually producing yellow, orange and red), melanins (usually producing brown, black and grey), other pigments (such as found in some parrot feathers) or by nano-scale reflective tissues (usually producing UV-blue, white and iridescent coloration; Gill 1995). Coloration produced by the latter mechanism is typically referred to as 'structural coloration.'" (Shawkey and Hill 2005:121)
About the inspiring organism
Threat Categories LONG_LC Med_800pxamerican_goldfinch27527 American Goldfinch
Carduelis tristis (Linnaeus, 1758)
[American goldfinch]

IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern
Habitat(s): Artificial - Terrestrial, Forest, Grassland, Shrubland

Some organism data provided by: ITIS: The Integrated Taxonomic Information System
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist
Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Ultraviolet reflectance, pigmentation, coloration, structural coloring.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Manufacturing, carpets, furniture, optics, photovoltaics, electronics, paint, coatings, textiles, construction, buildings

Experts
The Hill Lab
Geoff Hill
Auburn University Department of Biological Sciences
Department of Biology
Matthew Shawkey
University of Akron
References
Shawkey, M. D.; Hill, G. E. 2005. Carotenoids need structural colours to shine. Biology Letters. 1(2): 121-124.
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Shawkey, MD; Hill, G.E.; McGraw, K.J.; Hood, W.R.; Huggins, K.L. 2006. An experimental test of the relative contribution and condition-dependence of microstructure and carotenoids in yellow plumage coloration. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B. 273: 2985-2991.
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