Purple is an uncommon color for birds. Most bird species have feathers in shades of brown, black, gray, or white. However, there are a few rare bird species that display brilliant plumage in shades of purple, violet, and lilac. The vibrant purple coloration is produced by structural colors in the feathers, caused by how light is reflected off the microscopic structure of the feathers. The purple hue acts as camouflage for some species, while for others it is likely used to attract mates. Here is an overview of some of the most vibrantly purple colored birds in the world and what they are called.
purple swamphen
The purple swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) is a large bird in the rail family that inhabits wetlands and marshes across Africa, southern Europe, and southern Asia. As their name indicates, these birds have deep plumage ranging from dark purple to turquoise. Their feathers gleam iridescently in the light. Purple swamphens have large feet with long toes that allow them to walk on floating vegetation in swamps. They use their large bill to forage on aquatic plants, seeds, insects, snails and other invertebrates. Purple swamphens are social and usually found in small groups. They are also known for their piercing alarm calls which alert the group to danger. Other common names for this species include purple gallinule and sultan chicken.
Purple martin
The purple martin (Progne subis) is the largest species of swallow found in North America. In bright light, the males of this species shine with iridescent deep purple plumage. Females are also purple, but with gray breast and throat. Purple martins are social songbirds that nest colonially, with groups of several pairs nesting in apartment-like nest boxes or hollow gourds. Their diet consists entirely of insects caught on the wing, like flies, beetles, butterflies, moths, and dragonflies. Purple martins are migratory, wintering in South America and returning to North America to breed. They are dependent on humans providing nesting sites. Because of habitat loss, they have declined in parts of their range. Providing suitable nesting sites helps conserve this vivid purple species.
Purple honeycreeper
The purple honeycreeper is a small songbird found in South America. There are four closely related species in the genus Cyanerpes, including the purple honeycreeper (Cyanerpes caeruleus), red-legged honeycreeper (C. cyaneus), and long-billed honeycreeper (C. nitidus). As their name suggests, male purple honeycreepers have stunning bright violet plumage. The females are green. They get the name “honeycreeper” from their habit of feeding on nectar from flowers, often pollinating them in the process. However, they also eat insects and fruit. Purple honeycreepers forage actively in the forest canopy. They occur in tropical forests from Panama to Bolivia and southeastern Brazil. Loss of habitat is a threat to some species.
Violet-necked lory
The violet-necked lory (Eos squamata) is a parrot native to islands of Indonesia and the Southwest Pacific. As the name suggests, these parrots have vibrant plumage in hues of violet, purple, and red. The head and belly are bright crimson, while the neck, back, and tail are deeply violet. The wings have vivid turquoise patches. Like other parrots, Violet-necked lories have curved beaks for cracking seeds and fruit. They use their brush-tipped tongue to drink nectar from flowers. These social, noisy parrots forage in groups high in the forest canopy. Deforestation on some islands threatens their status. Trade and trapping for the pet industry has also reduced their populations.
Purple glossy starling
The purple glossy starling (Lamprotornis purpureus) is a relatively large, social songbird found widely across sub-Saharan Africa. It lives in a variety of wooded and semi-wooded habitats. As the name indicates, the glossy feathers of the male shine in brilliant hues of purple and violet. Females are brownish-gray with some purple iridescence on the wings. Purple glossy starlings feed on fruits, nectar, and insects. They form large, noisy flocks that forage high in the tree canopy. The flock roosts closely together at night. Though common, their populations have declined in some regions due to habitat loss. These colorful birds are sometimes caged as pets, though this reduces numbers in the wild.
Lesser purple emperor
The lesser purple emperor (Apatura ilia) is a butterfly found across Europe and temperate Asia. Though not a bird, its vivid violet-purple wings make it worthy of mention. The upperwings of males are deep purplish-blue, while females are brown with white and purple markings. Like birds, the purple color is structural, produced by microscopic scales. Lesser purple emperor caterpillars feed on willow, poplar and aspen leaves. Adults sip tree sap and rotting fruit. This large, graceful butterfly glides through open woodlands and along river courses. Populations have declined in parts of Europe due to habitat loss. Several purple emperor species in Asia are also suffering declines due to deforestation.
Why are purple birds so rare?
Vivid purple plumage is extremely rare in the avian world. Most birds display feathers in cryptic shades of brown, black, white or grey. Bright colors like red, yellow or blue are somewhat more common, but occur in relatively few groups like tanagers, warblers, parrots, and cardinals. So why are bright purple and violet hues so unusual? There are several hypotheses:
– Pigment production – Birds cannot synthesize purple/violet pigments. Producing purple feathers requires specialized nanostructures.
– Camouflage – In most environments, purple hues would make birds easy for predators to spot. Neutral tones provide better camouflage.
– Sexual selection – There may be little evolutionary advantage to choosing purple mates; other cues like behavior displays or song complexity may be more important.
– Diet – Pigment availability from foods may constrain colors that birds can produce using nanostructures in feathers.
– Small mutations – Small genetic changes causing purple are extremely rare because of complex biochemical pathways needed to produce the color.
– Light wavelengths – The specific cone cells in most bird retinas see more detail in yellows and greens than purples. Detecting variant purple hues may confer little advantage.
So in short, vivid purple birds are so rare because the right genetic mutations have occurred in only a handful of species. The color likely provides an advantage, or at least no disadvantage, in their specific environments. But for most birds, drabber tones still rule.
Significance of purple in bird plumage
So what might be the significance of purple in those unique bird species that do display this flashy hue? Here are some of the leading theories.
– Camouflage – In dark swampy environments, iridescent purple can provide camouflage for some species like the purple swamphen.
– Sexual selection – Females may preferentially choose more vibrant purple males, driving the evolution of the color.
– Species recognition – The unique color helps birds recognize their own species and choose the correct mates.
– Social status – Dominant birds within a species may produce more purple hues, which helps establish hierarchies.
– Mate attraction – In species with drab females, the male’s purple plumage can catch the female’s attention.
– Intimidating rivals – Vivid purple on territorial birds may help scare away competing males.
So in different purple species, the color may play a range of roles from helping the bird blend into its surroundings, to establishing status, attracting interest, or intimidating competitors. The rarity of the color likely means it confers some advantage, or at least does no harm. For a handful of unique birds, purple reigns supreme.
Legal protections for rare purple birds
The vibrant plumage of purple birds makes them attractive for trade as pets or decorative items. But many purple bird species have declining populations due to habitat loss, trapping, and other threats. Several are protected by conservation laws:
– Purple swamphen – Protected in Europe under the Bern Convention and EU Birds Directive. Hunting prohibited.
– Purple martin – Protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the USA and Canada. Harming nests prohibited.
– Purple honeycreeper – Protected in Ecuador and Panama. Trapping and export prohibited.
– Violet-necked lory – Trade restricted under CITES Appendix II. Indonesia protects the species.
– Purple glossy starling – Legally protected from trade and habitat loss in South Africa.
– Lesser purple emperor – European populations protected under the Bern Convention and EU Habitats Directive.
In addition, many purple bird habitats receive protection in reserves or national parks. However, more action is needed in some regions to preserve sufficient habitat and curb illegal capture. Maintaining healthy populations of these rare and unique purple-hued birds requires continued conservation focus.
Conclusion
While most bird species sport subtle hues of brown, black or gray, a few rare groups display the majestic color of purple. These include the swamp-dwelling purple swamphen, iridescent purple martins, nectar-feeding purple honeycreepers, fruit-eating violet-necked lories, social purple glossy starlings and others. Their vibrant violet and purple plumage likely plays roles in camouflage, species recognition, social status and attracting mates. But purple birds remain rare due to the specialized conditions, habitats and mutations required to produce the color. Many purple-hued species require continued conservation efforts as populations decline and trapping for the pet trade persists. Yet through focused protection of both rare birds and their threatened habitats, we can ensure the continued survival of these uniquely-colored species and appreciation of their aesthetic beauty. The rarity of purple birds makes encountering them in the wild all the more special.
