Researchers at the University of Granada and the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence have demonstrated a link between urbanization and the plumage color of birds. Species that thrive in cities are less brown and sport more elaborate colors. These color differences are probably due to differences in habitat structure and predation pressure—cities are less forested, have different background colors and a lower number of avian predator species.
Bird species that do well in urban areas are more colorful and less brown, study finds
