Color preference in seed choice of birds in the Douglas Lake Region.

Abstract

This study asked whether birds of the UMBS region exhibit a preference among seeds of different colors. Specifically, we expected that birds would prefer brown seeds, which are associated with abundant and/or nutritious seeds of the area, would avoid green seeds, which are associated with toxic seeds of the area, and would not prefer red seeds, due to birds' avoidance of red sumac seeds in the spring. However, our results showed that while birds exhibited a preference at all feeders, they did not consistently prefer one color over another.