I found this very interesting. Does anyone know where the 'blackish" the
Americans are mentioning comes from?
Glen Ingram
----------
> From: Luke Cole <>
> To: Glen Ingram <>
> Subject: Re: Seeking information.
> Date: Thursday, 15 May 1997 16:23
>
> Dear Glen
> There is some tar-like sap substance around the bloom on the eucalyptus
> "berry" (actually a hard, somewhat conical button-like thing -- you know,
> being from Australia -- we got all these trees from you!). This
substance
> rubs off as the warblers are feeding -- I guess getting mites or other
small
> insects out of the blooms.
>
> Luke
>
>
>
> At 08:21 PM 5/14/97 +1000, Glen Ingram wrote:
> >Dear Luke,
> >Just curious. Why do the eucalyptus flowers turn the Warblers' faces
> >blackish?
> >
> >Best wishes
> >Glen
> >
> >> ABSTRACT FROM FIRST MESSAGE
> >> I've run across many birds that due to their feeding or grooming
habits,
> >> appear a different color -- could your red prothonotary(s) been
feeding in
> >> something red? For example, Yellow-rumped Warblers wintering here in
San
> >> Francisco often have a blackish face after they've been feeding on
> >> eucalyptus blooms; in Sandhill Cranes, birds achieve different
coloration
> >> by "painting" iron-carrying mud onto their feathers, which oxidizes
and
> >> gives them a rusty look.
> >
> >
> Luke Cole
> San Francisco, CA
>
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