A study published in the journal Landscape and Planning reveals that city birds exhibit duller and darker plumage compared to their rural counterparts due to urban pollution.
The interaction of pollution with melanin—the pigment responsible for black and brown colors—shows urban birds are more prone to store heavy metals, potentially conferring a survival advantage.
Carotenoids, essential pigments in plants, are less available in city environments, affecting the coloration of herbivorous animals like caterpillars and subsequently the birds that feed on them.
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