• Question: owls are the only bird that can see the colour blue so do you know what colour do other birds see?

    Asked by biskinkiki1234 to Angus, Christian, Hannah, Laura, Simon on 21 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Angus Ferraro

      Angus Ferraro answered on 21 Jun 2013:

      I don’t know anything about colour vision in animals I am afraid. I’d be interested to learn more though if the others know anything!

    • Photo: Simon Holyoake

      Simon Holyoake answered on 21 Jun 2013:

      I’m afraid this is a bit of a myth actually….. most birds have very good vision, and can certainly see and distinguish between many colours including blue, some birds can see certain colours better than others and vice versa, this is usually as a result of them adapting to their environment and role as predators, scavengers, herbivores and the like.

      There is strong evidence that suggests some birds can even see into the ultraviolet part of the spectrum, which is at the ‘blue’ end of visible light

    • Photo: Laura Roberts Artal

      Laura Roberts Artal answered on 21 Jun 2013:

      Thanks Simon!!! I didn’t know anything about bird’s eyesight!

      Great question!

    • Photo: Christian Maerz

      Christian Maerz answered on 21 Jun 2013:

      Uff, difficult one… I think we hardly have any good understanding about what animals actually see. I only know that birds’ eyes are very sharp. But I have no idea about colours – the same mystery applies to fish, by the way…

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