The first photograph taken of a kea specimen using ultraviolet light shows that the underparts of its wings appear even brighter than the orange-red that humans see, while the rest of its body is faintly luminous. Plumage that reflects ultraviolet light, says Kristal Cain, is like a secret channel of communication for birds—one that most mammals, with their three-colour vision, can’t eavesdrop on.
This photograph is created by two images captured on a full spectrum camera -one image documenting only ultraviolet (UV) and the other red-green-blue (RGB) light. The final is a blend of the ultraviolet and red-green-blue image—an approximation of how we think birds see, and how birds look to other birds, based on the research conducted so far.
Shot on assignment for New Zealand Geographic Issue: 171 September October 2021.
Read the Feature: https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/birds-eye-view-2/
Photograph Richard Robinson © 2021.
Rights managed image. No Reproduction without prior written permission.