Greater Roadrunner |
So Roadrunners (sometimes called chaparrals) have thin, transparent membranes for the eyes, which they can lower to protect their eyes - sort of like goggles. They can also be used to keep eyes from drying out when the day gets unusually hot.
Greater Roadrunner |
The coloring of a hummingbird comes mostly from the density of its feathers and the angle of the sun, not from pigment. These things determine how light is reflected off the feathers, displaying a certain color - or not. That's why a Ruby-throated Hummingbird's throat ("gorget") may appear ruby-red sometimes, and sometimes black.
As it moves around the coloring will change. But don't expect it to move around frequently. A hummingbird spends as much as 80% of its time simply sitting on a perch, surveying the landscape.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird |