Why is a moorhen’s bill (beak) red and not blue, green, or purple?
According to some quick research I did on the subject, the red colour of the bill and frontal shield is linked to health – birds with brighter red shields tend to carry lower levels of bacteria and parasites. The colour may also help with asserting dominance, as individuals with more vivid shields are more likely to win territorial disputes. The yellow tip of the bill can also reveal information about a bird’s condition, including aspects of blood health and resistance to infection, acting as a secondary signal of fitness.
But this is what happens when you do a quick bit of research and think the job is done. None of it actually answers my original question.
If blue were the species’ standard colour, I’m sure scientists would still be linking different shades of blue to health and fitness. So why red in the first place? Why not blue, green, or purple?
Maybe because red stands out more against water and vegetation. Maybe visibility matters in communication between birds. Or maybe evolution simply settled on red because, at some point, it worked slightly better than the alternatives.
Happy to hear any interesting theories or facts on this :)
📔👂 I always listen to audiobooks while drawing in a realistic style – one of the quiet perks of this kind of work. Long hours of detail and concentration somehow pair perfectly with a good story unfolding in the background.
While working on this piece, I listened to ‘Water’ by John Boyne, and I ended up giving it 5* rating. A beautifully written and deeply human novel dealing with grief, shame, memory, and the weight of the past. The storytelling is subtle and restrained, yet emotionally powerful. I also enjoyed how it echoed another book I loved – ‘Hagstone’ by Sinéad Gleeson. An island setting, a mysterious woman arriving from elsewhere, and only a small cast of characters – proof that you don’t need much to create a compelling story.
🎨 This artwork is part of a large commission I’ve been working on this month.