Hummingbirds, the masters of color. (eng/spa)

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The feathers of birds contain some of the most beautiful and diverse colors that can be observed in nature, however, there is one group that stands out from all the others for the complexity of their colorful plumage, the hummingbirds.

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But what is the secret behind their feathers? What makes them the masters of color? the answer is a combination of two sciences, physics and chemistry (specifically biochemistry)

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Bird feathers are made of keratin, the same substance that our nails and hair are made of. Inside the keratin, small structures called barbules are formed that are filled with cells called melanosomes, which produce pigments such as melanin, which is responsible for it. dark color of our hair and to protect ourselves from the sun's radiation.

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But now the big question, if we have bird-like compounds in our body, why don't we have a variety of colors like hummingbirds?
Well, the answer is simple, and it is at this point that physics comes into play. Nature works like a Lego game, you can build many different things with the same pieces, and that is the case with color.

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In our skin, melanin is found in a disorderly way, which makes it difficult for light rays to rebound and break down into their different colors. In birds, both keratin and pigments are organized in layers which enhance the rebound of light and its decomposition, something similar to what we see in soap bubbles.

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And the hummingbirds? As I mentioned before, hummingbirds are the masters of color, and their secret is due to the order and shape of their layers of keratin and pigments, which are lentil-shaped and full of small air bubbles. This forms a super complex structure that scatters the light in infinite tones, which depend on the angle at which the light falls.

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The irisdiscence of hummingbirds and some butterflies is such a fascinating and complex phenomenon that its study is allowing the development of our printing and security technologies for paper money, making them practically impossible to counterfeit.

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Versión en español

Las plumas de las aves contienen algunos de los colores más hermosos y diversos que se pueden observar en la naturaleza, sin embargo, hay un grupo que sobresale de entre todos por la complejidad de su colorido plumaje, los colibríes.

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Pero cuál es el secreto que encierran sus plumas? Que los convierte en los maestros del color? la respuesta es una combinación de dos ciencias, la física y la química (específicamente la bioquímica)

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Las plumas de la aves están compuestas de queratina, la misma sustancia de la que están hechas nuestras uñas y el cabello. Dentro de la queratina se forman unas pequeñas estructuras llamadas bárbulas que están llenos de unas células llamadas melanosomas, las cuales producen pigmentos como la melanina, la cual es la responsable de el. color oscuro de nuestro cabello y de protegernos de la radiación del sol.

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Pero ahora la gran pregunta, si tenemos en nuestro cuerpo compuestos similares a las aves, porque no tenemos una variedad de colores como los colibríes?
Bueno, la respuesta es sencilla, y es en este punto donde entra a jugar la física. La naturaleza trabaja como un juego de Lego, puedes armas muchas cosas diferentes con las mismas piezas, y ese el caso del color.

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En nuestra piel, la melanina se encuentra de manera desordenada lo cual dificulta el rebote y la descomposición de los rayos de luz en sus diferentes colores. En las aves, tanto la queratina como los pigmentos se organizan en capas los cual potencia el rebote de la luz y su descomposición, algo similar a lo que vemos en las burbujas de jabón.

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Y los colibríes? como ya lo había mencionado antes, los colibríes son los maestros del color, y su secreto se debe al orden y a la forma de sus capas de queratina y pigmentos, las cuales tienen forma de lenteja y están llenas de pequeñas burbujas de aires. Esto forma una estructura super compleja que dispersa la luz en infinidad de tonos, los cuales dependen del ángulo en que incide la luz.

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La irisdiscencia de los colibríes y de algunas mariposas es un fenómeno tan fascinante y complejo que su estudio esta permitiendo el desarrollo de nuestras tecnologías de impresión y seguridad para el papel moneda, haciéndolos prácticamente imposibles de falsificar.

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Excelente artículo y explicación acerca de cómo se forma esa belleza tan majestuosa de las aves con sus vistosos plumajes que las han hecho reinar un lugar especial a la vista de quemes amamos la naturaleza. Ciegamente se nota tu pasión por estas hermosas aves que ciertamente luego de leer todo lo que haz explicado acerca de ellas es en realidad fascinante. Felicidades por tu encantador trabajo

Muchas gracias por tu comentario, tienes toda la razón son mis aves favoritas. Tanto por su belleza como por los mecanismos biológicos con que los ha dotado la evolución.

I'm kinda speechless....too beautiful captures ! 😍🧡

😃Thank you very much, I had a very collaborative hummingbird model.

Manually curated by ackhoo from the @qurator Team. Keep up the good work!

Amazing birds! We don't have them in Europe, but I've seen (and photographed) them in Ecuador.
I really like the fourth photo. Lovely vibrant colours!

Thanks for the comment, Ecuador must be a wonderful place to photograph them, one day I must go there.

Certainly do if you have the chance! The wildlife there is fenomenal!

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You have such stunnung photos of these beauties.
Interesting to learn about the colours.

Thank you very much, the biology behind the colors of animals is an exciting topic, especially in hummingbirds.

This is a wonderful bird. Colourful small birds are looking painting. Nice photography

Stunning shots!👍

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Almost all natural colors just in one small creature 🤩

Wow, what a beautiful color! ..

what beautiful birds. thanks for sharing

What wonderful photos of wonderful hummingbirds! I am amazed by the game and the power of Nature. Thanks!

Guao, que fotos mas buenas me encantaron, hermoso colibríes, sus capaz son como brillantes se miran excepcional.

El colibrí es una de las aves que para mi son de las mas bellas misteriosas y enigmáticas exelente post
bendiciones para ti .

Nice pics and interesting article.

These pictures are beautiful too! Once, we were in Colorado sitting at a park outside. A hummingbird flew right to my brother's shoulder. It sat there for several minutes. We were all amazed because normally I only see them in flight or hovering around a hummingbird feeder. Their coloring is amazing.

What a beautiful experience, hummingbirds are associated with many cultures and legends, having one close makes all those stories feel real, it is nature communicating with us. Thanks for your comment.

You took these shots beautifully my friend and allowed the Hummingbird to really shine!

Thanks for sharing man!

Great photos!

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I have never seen a hummingbird, maybe because they don't live where I live. but thanks to your post, They are very great shots and I love them so much

Oh I'm sorry it seems I have missed a lot of you great postings meanwhile. I love these little birds they are so pretty ones !LUV


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Aww these are amazing pictures 😍😍well done

wow!!! thats amazing! hard to believe evolution let them stay colorful though - the flashy colors would get eaten by my logic.

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The colors are great. The shots were beautiful. I love birds. I've never seen a bird in these colors. very nice 😊

great pictures

very nice sharing

These are great pictures..
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Amazing. 😍

It looks like i can touch it. Something with big WOW😁😁😁

nice sharing

These are really amazing photos, bravo friend. I was amazed, congratulations. Your photos are masterpieces.

What a beautiful bird! Let's save nature for these beautiful birds😄👍👍
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