Birds of southeast Texas in photos

Photo taken in Brazo’s Bend State Park

Photo taken on Bolivar Ferry, Tx

Brighter eggs keep male birds hanging around to help with the offspring but often at the cost of mother’s health. It is believed that high antioxidants give the eggs brighter colors, but the female bird gives them up to her detriment.

Now, researchers have found that female birds make a similar sacrifice when colouring their eggs, creating vivid hues at the expense of their health.

The blue in many birds’ eggs comes from the compound biliverdin, a breakdown product of the heme unit in haemoglobin, which circulates freely in the blood. But biliverdin is not just a pigment, it is also an antioxidant used by the body to prevent cellular damage. [ read more Female birds sacrifice health to create more colorful eggs ]