Structural Colors of Birds

Structural colors create iridescent colors in bird feathers. ~The goal is to understand why structural colors act the way they do in certain situations. ~The research conducted over the course of the fall semester was to understand the optical phenomenon producing colors in individual barbules. ~Through the use of a polarizing optical microscope, certain hypotheses were built to explain certain phenomenon. ~Using a dark field illumination involving light acting at wide angles in microscopy, the barbules were not affected by polarization. ~So it can be suggested that the barbules have certain characteristics, possibly internal, which prevents wide-angle polarization. More recently, it was found that the barbules, when stacked upon one another, create a discoloration at the cross over point. ~It can be suggested that the barbules act as thin films and create a situation of thin film interference. ~More data will be taken using the Scanning Electron Microscope as well as getting cross sectional data to help understand the internal characteristics of the barbules. ~