The Conversation

Hot as shell: birds in cooler climates lay darker eggs to keep their embryos warm

Author: Phill Cassey, Assoc Prof in Invasion Biogeography and Biosecurity, University of Adelaide

The colour and brightness of birds' eggs plays a key role in keeping them at the right temperature.Anne Kitzman / Shutterstock

Birds lay eggs with a huge variety of colours and patterns, from immaculate white to a range of blue-greens and reddish browns.

The need to conceal eggs from predators is one factor that gives rise to all kinds of...

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