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  • BirdWatching

    since you asked

    Dec 07, 2019 3 minutes

    Q What do cardinals eat to make them red in seasons without berries? Are cardinals gray or olive if fed a carotenoid-free diet? — Catharine W. Tucker, via email

    A Several different types of pigments can lend their color to bird plumage, alone or in combination. Structural characteristics of feathers are also responsible for various colors. Carotenoids are the type of pigments that contribute to yellow, orange, and red feathers. Carotenoids are

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