Subject: Re: Looking for Mr. Goodadaptationist
Date: Dec 7 09:49:37 1995
From: Nicole Perfito - perfito at u.washington.edu


Dennis -- Not that I have a good adaptationist explanation for why
flamingos are pink, I wanted to add that there is a definate cost to
maintaing that pink color. Often after a successful breeding season with
frequent feedings to young, parent birds (especially males) will moult white
feathers and only regain their pink color after their next moult. The theory
is that parents "shunt" all of their energy for metabolizing the caratenoids to
feather pigment while feeding their chick.

Nicole Perfito
University of Washington