Going yellow in the face
In a recent issue of Nature magazine, researchers have published an interesting tale of bird culinary habits. It seems the
Egyptian vulture (
Neophron percnopterus), who has long been known for its vibrant yellow face, gains that color through its diet. The species noshes on the feces produced by ungulates like cows (this practice of feces eating is known as coprophagy). The ungulate feces contains carotenoids, or pigments, that turn the vulture skin its amazing hue. The vultures cannot make the carotenoids themselves. The interesting thing is that mate attraction is based on face color. Those with yellower faces are more attractive as mates. So, the more they eat, the yellower they get... and the more attractive.
current science news posted by Kirsten at 4/27/2002 02:13:00 PM
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