Eye Color and Eyelashes of Birds

The eyes of birds vary greatly in iris colorations. Interestingly, the eye color in some species changes, thus making it possible to identify stages in a bird’s life. The cause of changes in eye color within one species is not well understood. However, it is widely believed that changes in coloration are likely due to hormonal influences.

Along with eye color, eyes in some species may be outlined with eyelashes, while in many others they are not.

Eye Color is More Varied in Birds than Humans

Many bird species have more pigment coloration in their eyes than humans. As a result they have a wide range of eye color varying from black to brown, reds and oranges, yellows, blues, greens, and even white.

Moreover, color may vary within a single species. This variance may occur with breeding season, age, or even a bird’s sex. For example, the eyes of Double-crested Cormorants may turn to a gorgeous teal-blue color during breeding season. The eyes of Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks change from yellow to red as they mature. Female Boat-tailed Grackles and Brewer’s Blackbirds have dark eyes but the males have bright yellowish or greenish-white eyes.

What Types of Birds Have Eye Color Changes as
They Mature?

Color changes due to age can be found in a wide variety of birds. Examples include many raptors, woodpeckers, ducks, gulls, loons, pheasants, grebes, thrushes, blackbirds, and vireos. Why this happens and for what purpose is not currently understood. However, it is thought the eye color changes that develop as a bird ages may help some species to identify the maturity of potential mates.

Eyelashes and Research

Although many birds have no eyelashes some have very long eyelashes, and others may have short ones. Human eyelashes are modified hairs while a bird’s eyelashes are modified feathers.

There has been very little research on the eyelashes of birds, however the Cornell Museum of Vertebrates is currently analyzing eyelashes using the museum’s bird collection. Cornell University undergraduate student Kai Victor, the museum curator Vanya Rohwer, and others are surveying hundreds of the museum’s specimens. So far they have found at least one species in 28 of the 205 bird families they have examined have eyelashes. In general, they are discovering most species with eyelashes seem to be larger in size, nonaquatic, and nonmigratory.

What Purpose Do Eyelashes Serve?

It is thought that birds’ eyelashes, like our own, are used for protecting the eye. This protection may help to keep debris and dirt out of their eyes while flying, running, or digging.

As an enjoyable summary watch this short video on mammal and bird eyelashes.

Photos

Ostrich by William Warby, Attribution 2.0 License Generic License

Parrot with white eye, Stuart Richards, Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 generic license

Cormorant Eye, Timothy K Hamilton, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic license

Immature Sharp-shinned Hawk by Jerry McFarland, Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic License

Adult Sharp-shinned Hawk photos by author Anne, Attribution-NoDerivs license, https://www.flickr.com/photos/157982666@N07/albums/72157688260862285

Suli, the Draper Museum Raptor Experience’s Turkey Vulture by author Anne Hay, https://centerofthewest.org/author/anneh/

Secretary Bird by Karen, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic License