Plumage carotenoids in bullfinches

Description

In bullfinches, males of the sexually dimorphic taxa show carotenoid-coloured reddish or orange plumages, while females and monomorphic representatives generally lack such colouration. In this project we combine data on plumage colouration and the respective pathways of carotenoid synthesis with those of the molecular tree. Finally, we aim to draw conclusions on the evolutionary development of the different carotenoid-based colouration patterns in these birds.

Location