Re: Figbird Face colouration

[Brian Fleming <>]

James Davis wrote:
> 
> This morning I watched a male Figbird singing from a palm tree in Mt.
> Coot-tha Botantical Garden.  As typical for the the species, he
> displayed
> a red eye-patch.  However, when he joined a female to inspect a
> potential
> nest site -- the two birds sat close to each other and clapped their
> bills together -- his red face-patch turned white with a thin red/pink
> border.  Has anyone else witness such a change in colour?
> 
> Cheers, Jim
> 
> Dr. Wm. James Davis, Editor
> Interpretive Birding Bulletin
Colour changes in birds' bare facial skin can be rapid, changing
according to emotional state - Comb-crested Jacana can change from red
to pale yellowish; Regent Honeyeater is suspected of this too. I'm sure
there are other Australian species which do this.
(Related maybe to erectile wattles of amazing colour in Tragopans and
other pheasants?)  ANTHEA FLEMING