birds!!

[puzzled54]

Which are the only birds that can see the colour blue?

[shaneystar2]

Owls
http://www.mundayweb.com/uselessfacts/animal.p hp

[Salty]

Owls, apparently

[paulineward]

How do they ever find that out??

[gen2]

If that is the case, then why do birds like bower birds and birds of paradise often have bright blue feathers that are used in mating displays, unless these can be seen by potential mates?

[Ont-ice]

Good question gen2. I've just checked shaneystar2's link and it does say owls. We have lots and lots of bluejays here - very striking blue - so I wonder as you do re the mating. Anyone care to comment?

[Avatar]

I find this not that believable.
Many birds can see ultraviolet I believe which is fairly near the blue end of the colour spectrum.
So saying that most birds cannot see blue would imply that they can see from red up to ultraviolet with a gap at the blue bit.
This does not ring true.

[shaneystar2]

I don't know either ....perhaps they wear blue tinted sunglasses .......this is obviously a quiz Q of some sort and if there are other birds that can also see blue then the quiz setter should have done a bit more research before posing a question that can be doubtful.

[slaney]

Agree rather simplistic question.. but fascinating to try and find out more.
http://www.bio.bris.ac.uk/research/vision/4d.h tm
I found this site useful.Birds can see colours unknown to us , and the ultraviolet spectrum is important in mating.

[puzzled54]

Thanks to you all for your contributions. It is for a local quiz, and seems like someone has found shaneystar2's link and used that for the question. Anyway, thats what I'll put for the answer.

[Ont-ice]

Thank you Slaney for that very interesting link re humans, bees and birds and their perception of colour.

[slaney]

.. glad you liked it ,O-ice
Leads on to the questions What is blue ?
Does it only exist in the cones in your retina?

[Ont-ice]

It would seem that way since the cone 'types' are red,green and blue.
My other half is colour blind and it's rather interesting to see the colour combinations he comes up with when trying to make matching choices. Try: Going out and buying an orange T-shirt to wear with red shorts.
For the birds, girl! For the birds! :-)