Are pigeons colour-blind ?

[Cranfield]

This is a serious question and I would be interested in any opinions.

 

Having just bought a red vehicle (my previous vehicle,s colour was dark green), I wonder if I should park out of sight of any pigeons, that might come to my decoys.

 

Then you think of the fluorescent orange plastic net, someone used for a hide and shot loads of pigeons, who didn,t seem to be bothered about the colour.

 

So, its not the colour of my vehicle, but its shape ?

But, if its parked against a hedge, or wood, it doesn,t have a geometric shape difference, just a colour difference.

Obviously avoid sunlight reflecting from windows, or shiny chrome bits, but other than that, if they are colour-blind, it should be OK.

Or will it ?

 

If they are colour-blind, why do we pay extra for our decoys, to be as close to "real pigeon colour", as possible ?

 

Apart from the fluorescent net, mentioned above, does anyone know of any other experiments, or actual scientific research into this subject ?

[dead-eye-dick]

Then I shall also be serious, for once.

 

I have been told form meny sources that they don't see colours - only shades of ? grey ?

 

so, for an example, a red car may look the same to them as a blue car, if they are as 'dark' as eachother....

 

 

I had tried an experament shortly after I posted on the same subject..

 

As you know my jeep is a lightish sort of blue, when parked in the field birds were alot more weary then after I moved it.

This was also the same with the green Forester, red Legacy and bright yellow Impreza

 

I don't know if it was the colour as much as the pressance of the vehicle..although someone else on here said the use their vehicle as a hide ??

 

maybe it will differ as to how used to seeing vehicles in the fields, ie. tractors spreading seeds...

 

on the up side, if you don't wash ya motor it'll blend in nicely with all that rust and mould :unsure:

[ernyha]

I think we all see our hide etc as if it is the same view that the pigeon is seeing. I am sure the "experts" are correct when they say pigeons are colour blind and just see things as we do when watching a black and white movie on our TV.

On a day last summer when I had my" Red letter" on rape stubble, heavy showers occasionally made me put up my brolly which is a multi-coloured thing. The birds still came in,rain and multi coloured brolly and all.

Ever tried shooting trying to hold an umbrella at the same time?

Still hit a couple as well.

I don,t think colour comes in to it but light reflecting from anything definately does. :unsure:

[G.I. countrysports U.K. GARY]

I think that woodpigeons can only see in black and white...

 

Movement, shape, shadow, shine, glare, ect is what they really spot when we are trying our best to outwit them...

 

A lot of other birds see in colour, the main reason behind some of the poisionous berries being bright red, which makes the birds steer well clear of eating them.

 

Colourfull birds see in colour. What would be the point of them being so coloured if they couldn't see in colour!! I read a report about Mallard pairing up. Basically, these students caught up the drakes that were having problems finding a mate. They painted their green heads brighter and touched up other colours to enhance them and make them appear in better condition than they really were, consequently, when they were put back in with the ducks they paired up straight away. Obviously, the ducks see in colour to make that choice.

 

I have never read a report about pigeons and colour vision, but I am fairly certain that they can only see in black and white. Maybe some of the fruit eating pigeons from the tropics have developed colour vision, namely the RAMERON pigeon from the tropics of Africa, come to think of it this bird has a bright yellow beak and legs, their food stuffs are mainly fruit and surely they need to differentiate between poisionous red and other colours. However, I think that our dearly loved Woodie sees in monocrome...

 

Any other thoughts...

 

GARY...

[highdowns hunter]

I think that they see in black and white :unsure: too as we have some traffic lights at a crossroads near me and they never stop when the lights are on red

[Yorkshire Pudding]

I was also told that they only see in black and white. Hense when roost shooting if you stand under a tree and don't move they can't see you.

How many of you have been stood still only for the birds to land in a tree right next to you ?

 

all the best yis yp :ph34r:

[everygoodnamewastaken]

What about crows then?

[brooktrout]

An interesting subject Cranfield and a difficult point to argue, as most of us naturally try to blend in withthe background with all types of hunting. I have always believed that all land creatures saw the full spectrum, the same as humans. After all, who are we to think that our human eyesight is superior to any other living thing?. But then again, there is the use {by law I think} for safety reasons,of the obligation to wear bright orange arm bands for all American hunting and stalking,and apparently without any problems on this score.