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Science 21 April 1978:
Vol. 200. no. 4339, pp. 321 - 323
DOI: 10.1126/science.200.4339.321
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Articles

Avian Eggs: Thermoregulatory Value of Very High Near-Infrared Reflectance

G. S. BAKKEN 1, V. C. VANDERBILT 2, W. A. BUTTEMER 3, and W. R. DAWSON 3

1 Life Sciences Department, Indiana State University, Terre Haute 47809
2 Laboratory for Applications of Remote Sensing, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
3 Division of Biological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109

Studies of the spectral reflectance of the eggs of 25 species of birds from nine families disclosed uniformly high reflectance (often above 90 percent) in the near infrared. This property is associated with the presence of the eggshell pigments protoporphyrin and the bilins. These pigments allow coloration for cryptic or other purposes with minimum solar heating, a combination not possible with the melanin pigments typical of vertebrates.

Submitted on October 25, 1977
Revised on January 24, 1978

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)