are budgies colour blind?

[budgzie]

its been bugging me lately....because why would they be so colourful but be colour blind?
anyway i just wanted to know.

[KDK241]

Actually, budgies see color better than we do. There was a show on parrots and they said that those bright cheek patches and feathers actually kind of glow in the dark to budgies and they show up even brighter to other budgies in the light than they do to us. That is how they choose mates, the brighter the colors the better!

[budgzie]

wow i didn't think THAT would be the answer!
thanks!

[Buteo]

Yep...

They not only see in color, but because they can see in spectrums of light beyond human perception, birds see shades and hues of colors that we don't even have names for.

LOL, in truth we're the ones with the visual color deficiency.

This ability not only helps them in choosing the most vibrantly plummed mate, but in deciding which flowers have been visited and which haven't... as well as which fruits are the ripest.

[Lori~D]

Most birds eyesight is way better than any other animal.

[adavis]

Interesting! Thanks for sharing!! i never knew that!

[budgzie]

i really didn't think it would be THIS interesting!

[Spectrabird]

Bird vision is sensitive into the lower UV range--this is where the most brilliant plumage and markings occur to them--and most often completely invisible to our eyes.

Our eyes are most sensitive to green--exactly in the middle of our visible spectrum range. Birds vision is most sensitive to blue--the middle of their range. The trouble with most indoor lighting, even through windows is that the low UVA and blues are often lacking--or with many fluorescent lights completely overloaded.

The ratio and balance of red to blue is extremely important to the health of birds, as it informs the endocrine system on how to regulate metabolism, helps to set the "internal clock" of the bird, and plays a powerful role in immune function.

Without the right sorts of light, the inside world can be a very bland and unhealthy place...

[budgzie]

ok thanks!
i really thought that since they have such small eyes we would see the same!

[jmstraight]

Originally Posted by KDK241

Actually, budgies see color better than we do. There was a show on parrots and they said that those bright cheek patches and feathers actually kind of glow in the dark to budgies and they show up even brighter to other budgies in the light than they do to us. That is how they choose mates, the brighter the colors the better!

Was this a PBS show? I saw one similar to this and it was VERY good! Had DVR'd it but hubby deleted it!