There are no known birds that are naturally black in color yet shine purple. However, there are a few possibilities that could create the appearance of a black bird with hints of purple sheen.
Birds with Iridescent Feathers
Some black birds have iridescent feathers that reflect light to create colorful sheens. This is caused by the microscopic structure of the feathers, which refract light into different wavelengths. Under the right lighting conditions, these birds may appear to have a purple glow or sheen on their otherwise black plumage.
Examples of birds with naturally iridescent black feathers include:
- Common grackle – Bronzy iridescence on black feathers
- European starling – Green/purple iridescence on black feathers
- Common raven – Purplish iridescence on black feathers
The iridescent sheen is often only visible from certain angles in bright lighting. It helps birds signal to potential mates and serves other purposes like camouflage. But it can make their black feathers take on a colorful rainbow-like sheen.
Birds Covered in Oil or Other Substances
A bird that is normally black in color may appear purple if covered in certain oily or pigmented substances.
For example, a water bird like a cormorant could become covered in an oil spill. The slick rainbow sheen of the oil could make its black feathers take on a temporary purple hue. Similar effects could occur if a black bird became covered in other colorful substances like paint or food matter.
This change would only last until the bird cleans itself or molts those specific feathers. So it’s just a temporary alteration of the bird’s true black color.
Birds with Purple Plumage
Certain black birds do naturally display some purple or violet plumage, like these species:
- Purple swamphen – Dark overall with bright purple wings and head
- African passerine – Black with violet-blue accents
- Pin-tailed whydah – Black male with violet tips on tail feathers
These birds may appear black from a distance, but reveal stunning purple hues on a closer look. The purple coloration is achieved through unique feather pigments rather than iridescence.
Black Birds in Purple Lighting
When illuminated with purple light, any black bird may take on a purple sheen due to the reflected light. This could occur if:
- The bird is under purple stage lighting
- A bright purple light source is directed at a black bird at night
- The bird is in an environment filled with purple light, like a blacklight exhibit
The effect would disappear once the purple light source is removed. But under that lighting, black feathers could take on a vivid purple glow.
Genetic Mutations
In very rare cases, genetic mutations could cause a black bird to express hints of purple plumage. Specific mutations or conditions like albinism could inhibit normal black melanin production and create purple hues.
Most common black bird species have individuals with all-white plumage due to albinism. But it’s possible a mutation could result in diluted melanin leading to patchy purple coloration on an otherwise black bird.
These unique mutants would occur infrequently in nature and represent one-off flukes rather than whole purple-tinged species.
Artificial Coloration
People could intentionally make a black bird appear purple through artificial coloring like:
- Spray paint
- Graffiti or markers
- Collaring with purple dye
- Dipping tails or wings in purple paint
This unnatural coloring would likely impair the bird’s ability to fly or survive in the wild. But it could purposefully make a black bird take on artificial purple hues.
Optical Illusions
Under certain specific conditions, optical illusions could make a black bird appear to flash with a momentary purple sheen:
- Motion aftereffect – Staring at a bright purple image then looking at black bird
- Contrasting backgrounds – Black bird flying quickly in front of bright purple sky or foliage
- A Lilac chaser illusion – Staring at rotating pattern with purple
These effects create a brief phantom violet hue on the black bird due to visual processing tricks in the eye and brain. The bird’s feathers don’t actually change color during these illusions.
Conclusion
There are no naturally occurring black bird species that display true vibrant purple plumage. But under the right environmental conditions, some black birds can express an apparent purple sheen or color due to:
- Iridescent feather structures
- Mutations
- Artificial coloring
- Optical illusions
- Purple lighting
- Oil, paint or other coatings
So while elusive in nature, various factors can create the perception of a black bird with glossy purple highlights and sheens.
