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Posts Tagged "barb"

Dull Blue Jay under lack of sunlight

Posted on Nov 17, 2014

Dull Blue Jay under lack of sunlight

I took this photo of a Blue Jay under very cloudy, dark and dreary conditions as a comparative example to the bird that I previously photographed and posted that was in full sunlight. See, when there is considerably less light the species appears far less blue because it is all an illusion of sorts. Missing out on the vibrant shades of some species during overcast conditions is not a deception of our eyes – the colors are just not there! Those tricky birds… Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator

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Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Posted on Nov 4, 2014

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

I feel as if I am still being constantly reminded of the many Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) around with acorns crunching under my feet and calls of busy birds screeching out of yards, parks, and woodlands. They can look so vibrantly blue on sunny days, but that color is caused by sunlight being scattered by specialized cells in their feather barbs. Yep, the Blue Jay has no blue pigment! Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator

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