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Ultraviolet vision in birds: what is its function?
journal contribution
posted on 1994-06-01, 00:00 authored by Andy Bennett, I CuthillAlthough UV vision was first demonstrated in birds in the early 1970s, its function is still unknown. Here we review the evidence for UV vision in birds, discuss the special properties of UV light, lay out in detail hypotheses for the function of UV vision in birds and discuss their plausibility. The main hypotheses are that UV vision functions: (i) in orientation, (ii) in foraging and (iii) in signalling. The first receives support from studies of homing pigeons, but it would be unwise to conclude that orientation is UV's primary function in all birds. It is especially important to test the signalling hypothesis because bird plumage often reflects UV and tests of theories of sexual selection have virtually always assumed that birds perceive plumage ''colours'' as humans do. A priori this assumption is unlikely to be correct, for unlike humans, birds see in the UV, have at least four types of cones and have a system of oil droplets which filters light entering individual cones.
History
Journal
Vision researchVolume
34Issue
11Pagination
1471 - 1478Publisher
PergamonLocation
Oxford, EnglandISSN
0042-6989eISSN
1878-5646Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalUsage metrics
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No categories selectedKeywords
ultraviolet visionbird visioncolour visionsensory ecologyScience & TechnologySocial SciencesLife Sciences & BiomedicineNeurosciencesOphthalmologyPsychologyNeurosciences & NeurologyCOLOR VISIONCONE OIL DROPLETSVISUAL PIGMENTSCOLOR-VISIONSPECTRAL SENSITIVITYNEAR-ULTRAVIOLETWAVELENGTH DISCRIMINATIONSKYLIGHT POLARIZATIONMAGNETIC ORIENTATIONAPHAKIC OBSERVERSPASSERIFORM BIRD
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