How yellow and blue make green in parrots Date: October 5, 2017 Source: Cell Press Summary: Many brightly colored birds get their pigments from the foods that they eat, but that's not true of parrots.

A single enzyme fine-tunes red and yellow pigments in parrots' polychromatic plumage, according to a new study. The findings reveal new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the ...

Parrot feathers flaunt an array of colors, with yellow, red and orange hues made possible by pigments called psittacofulvins that are found only in the vibrant birds (SN: 3/15/05).

Birds in the parrot family, like the macaws pictured here, get their vibrant colors from psittacofulvins, which are oxidized by a single enzyme that changes them from red to yellow.

Two teams of researchers have independently identified a gene-encoded enzyme that converts yellow pigments obtained from the diet into red pigments, which birds use to color their feathers, bills ...

EASILY IDENTIFIED by its crimson crown, neon green and yellow cheeks, and slender, elongated bill, the red-capped parrot (Purpureicephalus spurius) also sports a striking purple chest that is an ...

How yellow and blue make green in parrots. Cell Press. Journal Cell DOI 10.1016/j.cell.2017.08.016 ...