Why are the bird-visited flowers predominately red?

Author:

Raven, Peter H.

Title:

Why are the bird-visited flowers predominately red?

Periodical:

Evolution

Year:

1972

Volume:

26

Pages:

674

Subject:

Flowers Birds

Summary:

This document explains how the colors of flowers or plants attract certain birds and other animals to it and how the shape of the plant makes it either accessible to inaccessible to various species which then limits the availability of the plant to specific species. For example, plants that have red flowers are inconspicuous to most insects but is an excellent "signal" of a high caloric reward for birds that encourages consistent visitation by the birds that are meant to pollinate specific flowers.

Label:

Birds - General

URL:

http://cletus.uhh.hawaii.edu:2075/stable/2407064

Collection:

Periodicals