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Scientists Discover Why Kingfisher Feathers Are So Colorful

February 18, 2026 — Kingfishers are small birds with bright blue and green feathers. For a long time, people wanted to know why these feathers are so beautiful. Now, scientists have found the answer.

A team from Northwestern University in the United States used very powerful X-rays to look at the feathers closely. These X-rays come from a special machine called a synchrotron. It makes X-rays that are much stronger than normal ones.

What Did They Find?

The scientists discovered that the feathers have a very special structure inside. The feathers have tiny holes, like a sponge. When light hits these tiny holes, it bounces back as bright blue and green colors. This means the colors do not come from any paint or pigment. They come from the shape of the feather itself!

Ancient Chinese Art

This discovery is also connected to old Chinese art. Hundreds of years ago, during the Qing dynasty, Chinese artists used kingfisher feathers to make beautiful objects. This art is called “tian-tsui,” which means “dotting with kingfisher feathers.” The artists carefully cut the feathers and placed them on metal to make jewelry, hats, and decorative screens.

The scientists worked with Chicago’s Field Museum to compare feathers from the old art with feathers from birds in the museum. They found that the artists used feathers from common kingfishers and black-capped kingfishers. They also used mallard duck feathers for green colors.

Why It Matters

Understanding how these feathers make color without pigment could help scientists create new materials in the future. These materials could be colorful without using chemicals or paint.

Source: X-rays reveal kingfisher feather structure in unprecedented detail — Ars Technica

Vocabulary Help

• kingfisher = a small, colorful bird that catches fish
• synchrotron = a big machine that makes very strong X-rays
• pigment = a substance that gives color to things
• dynasty = a family that rules a country for a long time
• structure = the way something is built or organized

Grammar Focus

• Simple past: “Scientists discovered the secret.”
• Present perfect: “People have wanted to know for a long time.”

Content license: CC BY 4.0