The gyroide cells in the outer layers of the feathers refract light to give the male Western Violet-backed Sunbird it spectacular metallic sheen.
The gyroide cells in the outer layers of the feathers refract light to give the male Western Violet-backed Sunbird it spectacular metallic sheen. Out of the breeding season the males resembles the drab female.
Size: 2886px × 4200px
Location: Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
Photo credit: © Nick Greaves / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 4, adaptation, aerodynamics, africa, alula, anthreptes, aves, avian, beak, bird, birds, blooded, bristle, chambered, compensatory, contour, decurved, dinosaur, east, feathers, feeding, filaments, gyroides, habitat, heart, insectivore, iridescent, keratin, living, longuemarei, metallic, miombo, monogamous, nature, nectarinidae, nectivore, olfactory, oscines, passerine, passeriniformes, perching, plumage, pollination, preening, primary, quill, refraction, renal, resident, riverine, scales, secondary, shaft, sheen, small, sternum, sunbird, symbiotic, tanzania, vertebrate, violet-backed, warm, western, wildlife, woodland
