Thermal effects of plumage coloration

Plumage coloration can have substantial effects on a bird's energy budget. This is because different colours reflect and absorb light differently, affecting the heat loads acquired from solar radiation. We examine thermal of feather gain flight performance discuss potential role plumage colour Early investigations thermoregulation revealed complex interactions between environmental conditions physical properties that may led to diverse behavioural physiological adaptations birds their environment. While darker surfaces more light, more, than light-coloured under exposure sun, this relationship not always straightforward when considering transfer skin. Heat through varies depending multiple factors, such as density transmission light. For instance, higher transmissivity increase reaching skin level, while conduction convection surface dark feathers Solar heating affect metabolic costs maintaining constant body temperature, conditions, either positive or negative effect More specifically, be advantageous in cold but energetic associated with ambient temperature high. recent studies further suggested might reduce flight. ratio lift drag wing. As concluding remarks, we provide future directions for new lines research will aid improving our understanding budget, which potentially explain factors driving evolution distribution patterns birds.