Can Birds See Color? (Everything Explained + Myths Debunked)

Birds have arguably the best eyesight in all of the animal kingdom. From eagles that can spot prey from thousands of feet away, to kingfishers and other diving birds that can make the necessary corrections to dive right above the surface for baitfish, these animals take vision to a new level. But what does the world look like to them? Can they see color?

You only have to look at a bird to see how important color vision is to them. The bright colors of many birds are a good indication that the birds can see each other’s fine plumage. It turns out that birds can see the entire spectrum, while we can’t. Amazingly, birds have the ability to see in the ultraviolet and near-ultraviolet spectrum.

Birds can see more colors than we do because of a fourth type of light-receiving cone in the retina of their eyes. With this extra ability, birds are able to see details of their environment and other birds that we’re not even aware of.

Read on to learn more about what birds can and cannot see and how they interact with the colors around them.

Two vibrant scarlet macaws soar through the sky

What colors do birds not see?

Birds can see all the colors we can see and more! This is because birds have something we don’t, a fourth color sensor. Birds are known as tetrachromats, which means they can see red, green and blue, as well as the ultraviolet spectrum. We are called trichromats because we cannot detect colors in this fourth range.

You’ve probably heard that birds can’t see blue, but that’s really just a corny story. Blue is a fairly common color on bird plumage, so naturally it’s important for birds to be able to see it. However, blue is an interesting color structurally, which may have something to do with the origin of this bird myth.

However, there are some colors that birds and mammals like us cannot see. The infrared spectrum is invisible to most animals, but some creatures, such as venomous snakes and vampire bats, are able to detect this light. In this way, the animals are able to “see” the body temperature of their prey.

Read on to learn more about color vision in birds.

A common misconception is that birds cannot see blue, when in fact they can

What color do birds like best?

Birds can see colors in the ultraviolet spectrum, a range we can’t describe! In addition to the UV range, birds are able to detect all of the following colors and their combinations:

• purple
• blue
• green
• yellow
• orange
• Red

Birds are probably most wary of their own species’ colors, their most important food sources, and other important things to watch out for, such as predators. Hummingbirds, for example, are attracted to reds and oranges because the flowers that birds pollinate tend to be those colors. Orioles also have a preference for orange foods, and these just so happen to match their own plumage color.

Can birds see more colors than humans?

Birds can see a variety of colors that we can’t. Unfortunately, we can’t really describe these colors because they are beyond what we can perceive. The extra range of colors that birds can see is beneficial to them in many ways. The ability to see ultraviolet light helps birds identify potential mates, find food and avoid predators.

Interestingly, there are often significant color differences between male and female birds that we simply cannot see. Male and female blue tits are tit-like birds that look almost identical to our eyes, but the females can clearly identify the males by the purple-red color of their crest feathers.

Blue tits aren’t the only example of this unexpected diarism (color difference between males and females). A 2005 study found that more than 90 percent of the 139 bird species surveyed showed visual differences between the sexes that are visible to birds but invisible to us of!

Blue tits can see differences in male and female plumage that we humans can’t

Can birds see in the dark?

Birds can see in the dark, although their ability varies between species. If you’ve ever accidentally disturbed a roosting bird at night, you’ve probably noticed how awkwardly they fly in the dark. On the other hand, nocturnal birds such as owls and nightingales have incredible night vision, although this comes at the expense of some color vision.

Like us, owls are thought to have trichromatic vision in daylight. A 2019 study involving several species of owls found that the birds lack the UV-sensitive cones that most other birds have, but they can still see in the ultraviolet spectrum at night.

Do birds hate any color?

Birds are said to avoid white, but different species of birds may respond to different colors in different ways.

An interesting study of cucurbit finches from Australia showed that red is a deterrent because it is the head color of the species’ dominant and aggressive males. Of course, this isn’t true of all birds, since pollinators like hummingbirds are actually attracted to red flowers.

Close-up of Gouldian Finch

What Colors Attract Birds to an Aviary?

Birdhouses provide a great place for birds to build nests and raise chicks. Our feathered friends are not looking for color when choosing a nesting site, but for a spot away from their natural surroundings and away from predators.

The size and shape of the aviary is very important and will determine which birds will be able to use it. Ironically, the most attractive color for a birdhouse may be the least prominent hue. Dull, natural colors such as greens, browns, and grays may be most attractive to wild birds.

What colors attract birds to bird feeders?

There doesn’t seem to be any universal color that will attract all birds to a feeder. However, matching the color of a bird’s favorite food source can be very effective, which is why red hummingbird feeders are the most popular color.

Researchers in the United Kingdom have found that green and silver bird feeders are favored by the country’s common backyard birds. Red and yellow are the least popular, perhaps because there are no hummingbirds in England!

Interestingly, different species do seem to prefer different colors in the UK study. For example, European starlings prefer blue feeders, while robins prefer black feeders.

Red is one of the best colors to attract hummingbirds and why most feeders are red

What colors attract birds to your backyard?

Green is probably the most attractive color to birds. Simply put, a well-planted natural garden provides an attractive feeding, nesting and roosting place for birds!

Native plants that produce a variety of brightly colored flowers and fruit are attractive to you and your feathered friend.

Can all birds see color?

All birds see colors, but some species see more colors than others. For example, owls are less able to see color than diurnal birds because their eyes are better suited to seeing in low light conditions. For these nocturnal hunters, sensing the movement of prey is more important than the color of the prey.

Owls generally cannot see in color as well as birds that are active during the day

Bird Vision FAQs

Do birds like black?

In some cases, birds are attracted to black. Many plants have berries that turn black when fully ripe, which attracts frugivorous birds like waxwings and robins. These plants and birds have a mutually beneficial relationship, with the plants providing the food source and the birds providing the seed dispersal mechanism.

Can Birds See Orange?

Many birds are very interested in orange because it often signifies the energy-rich nectar in flowers. The orange color is visible and very attractive to nectar-eating birds such as hummingbirds, who wish to visit plants such as trumpet vines (Campsis radicans).

Can birds see blue?

Birds can certainly see blue. In fact, European starlings (sturgeon) was found to prefer blue bird feeders! Birds are generally thought to be attracted to their own color, so bluejays and jays may also be attracted to blue.

Are birds color blind?

Birds are not color blind. In fact, birds have highly developed color vision, and they can even detect colors in ultraviolet light, which humans cannot.