In the fossil bird, the preserved melanosomes are about three times longer than they are wide, which is consistent with melanosomes involved with both non-iridescent blue and gray.

"Five minutes later, this bright, iridescent blue bird flew into the small pond/water feature," Blackford told Chron. "I have never seen one before, but suspected it might be a type of bunting." ...

Modern birds are members of Neornithes and the model indicates that iridescent feathers go back this far. [Related: Leggy dinosaur species could be the latest feathery clue to bird evolution.] ...

One of the most soothing colours on the colour wheel is blue. Here are some animals that belong to that colour ...

Blue, which is non-iridescent, actually has three separate layers: an outer keratin covering, a spongy middle section and an interior layer of melanosomes, as National Geographic's Greshko notes.

While most of its body is various shades of brown, tan and gray, the male features a bright red face, an iridescent blue-green neck and a stark white neck band.

Peafowls, symbols of royalty and beauty, captivate with their vibrant plumage and iconic tails. From the well-known Indian ...

In the wild, nearly 12,000 species of birds exist. Humans see them every day, but there are a handful that haven’t been recorded in a year or even in over a century. Scientists have updated the list ...

Whipping wind gusts from last week’s storm damaged the zoo’s newest bird habitat. Three iridescent blue and orange superb starlings flew back into the aviary 48 hours later.