Summary 6

Kaplan M. Birds born to fear red. Nature [Internet]. 2009 Jul 31 [cited 2009 Sept 17]; doi:10.1038/news.2009.760. Available from: http://www.nature.com.mutex.gmu.edu/news/2009/090731/full/news.2009.760.html

Sarah Pryke of Macquarie University in Sydney has conducted an experiment on Australian Gouldian finches (Erythrura gouldiae) attempting to conclude whether the color red is hard wired into animal brains or if the association with red is a learned trait. In this study Pryke used juvenile Gouldians who had not yet developed into red-heads or black-heads. She then randomly painted the finches’ heads red, black, or blue. The blue color being the control color as it is not found in natural Gouldians. The birds with the red heads were deferred to at feedings without a fight and exhibited lower corticosterone levels than the blue and black painted birds.
Scientists have seen numerous examples of red being seen as the color of aggression but they aren’t sure why. They speculate that the infusion of blood to the surface of the skin when aroused may be a signal to others of aggression. Also the color red may be physically difficult to maintain so those that do must be exemplary specimens. The fact that red is such a noticeable color may signal to others that the particular animal is especially tough so it can be noticed by predators and still survive.