A rufous tail refers to the reddish-brown colored tail found on certain bird species. The rufous tail contains feathers that range in color from cinnamon to rusty red. This distinctive tail coloration is most commonly seen in birds that inhabit forest and woodland environments. Some of the most well-known birds with rufous tails include robins, thrushes, finches, hawk species, and more. The vibrant reddish hue serves an important purpose for these birds in their natural surroundings.
What causes the rufous color?
The rufous or reddish-brown color of these tails stems from pigments called melanins. Melanins are produced by cells called melanocytes. There are two main types of melanin: eumelanin which produces darker blacks and browns, and pheomelanin which produces warmer reds and rusty oranges. The precise ratio and concentration of these two melanins in the feather determine its final coloration. To achieve a rufous tail, the feathers contain a higher amount of pheomelanin pigment. This gives them that cinnamon to burnt sienna tone. The coloration can vary slightly between more coppery cinnamon versus a deeper rusty red.
Why do some birds have rufous tails?
The rufous tail is an important adaptation for birds that inhabit dense forests and woodlands. The bright cinnamon to rusty red coloration serves as camouflage to help the birds blend into their surroundings. When perched among trees, leaves, and woody branches, the rufous tail allows them to remain concealed from predators and prey. The red and orange hues closely match the colors of twigs, bark, dead leaves, pine needles, and other features of their habitat. This helps the birds stay hidden when nesting, feeding, resting, and going about their daily activities.
The rufous tail is also thought to play a role in communication and signaling between members of the same species. The eye-catching flash of color helps attract the attention of other birds nearby. It can signal information about identity, health status, fitness for breeding, and possibly social hierarchy within the species. Some scientists also theorize the red tail makes it easier for parents to follow and keep track of fledglings in the dense underbrush. Overall, the rufous tail provides protective, practical, and social benefits for certain avian species.
Bird Species with Rufous Tails
Many familiar backyard and forest birds exhibit rufous tail feathers. Here are some of the most common varieties:
American Robin
The American robin is widely recognized by its ruddy orange tail. Males and females have the same coloration. The tail contrasts sharply with the robin’s black head and gray back. American robins use their rusty tails to signal other robins when feeding, defending territories, and engaging in other social interactions.
Rufous-sided Towhee
As its name indicates, the rufous-sided towhee has reddish-orange sides and tail feathers. The coloring is more pronounced in males than females. This species inhabits forests, thickets, and backyards across North America. The towhee’s rufous tail helps it blend into leaf litter as it hops along the ground searching for food.
Eastern Towhee
Similar to the rufous-sided towhee, the eastern towhee exhibits the same rufous coloring on its sides, tail, and wings. However, the eastern towhee has a white belly instead of a brown one. It breeds across eastern North America and stays camouflaged in the brush by its rich rufous tail.
American Redstart
This small warbler uses its flame-colored tail to signal aggression and defend its territory. Males are black with bright orange-red patches on their wings, sides, and fanned tail. Females are grayer with paler orange markings. Their rufous tails distinguish them amidst green foliage.
Western Tanager
Known for its vivid yellow body and black wings, the male western tanager sports a fiery orange-red tail. Females are duller yellow with an olive-colored back and lighter orange tail. This species summers across western North America.
Flame-colored Tanager
As implied by its name, this tropical tanager has vivid scarlet-red plumage covering its entire body except for its black wings and tail. The male’s blazing crimson tail stands out against the green rainforest canopy of its Central and South American range.
Hepatic Tanager
The male hepatic tanager has a deep burgundy red body, contrasted by black wings and a blue-gray head. True to its name, “hepatic” refers to its liver-colored red plumage. The female is yellowish with some olive-gray tones. Both sexes have the same bold reddish-brown tail.
Summer Tanager
Found in eastern U.S. forests, the summer tanager male has a uniformly bright red body and darker red tail. Females are yellowish with an olive wash and less vivid red tail. The summer tanager’s crimson tail distinguishes it fromlookalike scarlet tanagers.
Scarlet Tanager
Close in appearance to the summer tanager, scarlet tanagers have black wings that contrast sharply with their scarlet red body. Their tails are a deeper blood red hue. Females are olive-green in color with yellowish underparts and a duller red tail.
Red Crossbill
This finch species uses its unique crossed mandible to pry seeds from conifer cones. Males are reddish overall with a darker brick-red tail. Females are more yellowish with a yellow-green rump and brownish tail. These birds are nomadic and elusive as they search for food across North America’s coniferous forests.
Pine Grosbeak
The pine grosbeak male has a pinkish-red head, rump, and tail that contrasts with his gray and brown mottled back and wings. Females are gray with subtle rosy hues on the head and rump. These stocky finches breed in northern forests and may irrupt southward in winter.
Evening Grosbeak
The male evening grosbeak has a vibrant yellow body with black wings and a large ivory bill. His tail feathers show a mix of yellow and rufous-brown hues. Females have a pale greenish-yellow wash and rufous tail. They frequent backyard feeders when not nesting in northern forests.
Northern Flicker
The eastern population of this large woodpecker has a black back, spotted belly, and handsome black scalloped plumage. Its most distinctive marker is the bright red-orange feather shafts on its tail and wings. These are especially visible during flight.
Rufous Hummingbird
A frequent backyard visitor in western North America, the rufous hummingbird has coppery cinnamon plumage all over its tiny body. The male has especially vivid rusty-orange tail feathers. Females are slightly greener above. Both have bold rufous tails.
Significance of the Rufous Tail
What purposes does the rufous tail serve for birds beyond just decoration? Here is an overview of its key functions and benefits:
Camouflage
As mentioned earlier, the rufous tail helps birds blend into wooded habitats. By matching the colors of surrounding bark, leaves, pine needles and dirt, rufous-tailed birds can remain hidden from predators and disguise themselves while approaching prey. Species like towhees, sparrows, and tanagers all rely on their rusty rears for camo!
Communication
Birds use their tails to signal information visually to others around them. A quick flash of red catches the eye. By fanning and spreading their rusty tails, birds can convey aggression, defend territories, court mates, identify their species, and maintain contact with others in dense habitat.
Balance and Control
Like an airplane’s rudder, a bird’s tail assists with steering and maneuvering. The fanned shape provides lift and drag to stabilize flight. Rufous-tailed birds rely on their broad, stiff tail feathers to make quick turns and maintain control in the woods. This tail control helps them weave through branches and undergrowth.
Defensive Weapon
Birds can use their tails to distract, deter, or whack opponents during conflicts. A sharp jab from stiff tail feathers can startle predators during an attack. Spreading the eye-catching rufous tail also momentarily distracts adversaries. The bold coloration basically signals “don’t mess with me!”
Thermoregulation
Changing the position of the tail feathers can help regulate body heat. Birds fluff their tail feathers to trap more insulating air against their bodies in cold weather. And during hot weather, they hold their tail feathers flat to dissipate excess body heat. The rufous coloration may also help absorb radiant solar energy.
Identification and Taxonomy
The distinct rufous tail provides a reliable field mark to identify, classify, and study various bird species, especially within the families Turdidae, Parulidae, Cardinalidae, and Fringillidae. Ornithologists use the rufous tail as a key diagnostic trait when analyzing species and designating new discoveries.
Threats and Conservation
Despite its adaptive benefits, the rufous tail can pose some risks for birds in certain situations:
Increased Vulnerability
The eye-catching rufous feathers make birds with this trait more visible to predators, including hawks, falcons, and owls. This can put them at greater risk, especially fledglings on their first flights from the nest.
Unnatural Predation
Some unfortunate birds are lured and captured because of their attractive plumage. Tropical species like tanagers are prized by the caged bird trade and poachers for their brilliant red tails.
Climate Change
As forest habitat shifts and fragments due to climate change, rufous-tailed birds may have more difficulty camouflaging, especially those with breeding grounds in northern boreal forests.
Habitat Loss
Deforestation and urbanization that destroys woods and thickets can leave some rufous-tailed species without their ideal concealing environment.
While the rufous tail remains beneficial overall for many birds, conservation efforts focused on habitat preservation can help protect those that rely on this rusty feature. Maintaining healthy forests and sufficient vegetative cover will ensure the rufous tail keeps serving its rightful purpose.
Fun Facts About Rufous Bird Tails
Beyond the functional roles of the rufous tail, here are some quirky and entertaining facts about this colorful feature:
- Rufous contains the Greek root erythrós meaning “red.” It aptly describes the hue!
- A bird’s oil gland located above the tail provides oil that helps maintain the vibrant color of the feathers.
- The intensity of the rufous color differs between individual birds based on diet, health, and age.
- Young fledglings initially have paler, less colorful tails until their adult plumage grows in.
- The rufous tail inspired the red tail featured on the cardinal, the state bird of multiple U.S. states.
- Some tropical birds like the resplendent quetzal have incredibly lengthy and elaborate rufous tail feathers spanning over three feet long!
- The expression “rufous nape” refers to rusty reddish feathers on a bird’s neck, not its tail.
- Birds can control the shape of their tail feathers using specialized muscles called retractor muscles.
- In captivity, birds may abrasively rub and fray their rusty tail feathers on enclosure surfaces out of boredom or stress.
- During the breeding season, the rufous tail grows fresher, brighter feathers to help attract a mate.
The rufous tail’s vibrant coloring never fails to add a pop of excitement to our avian encounters. Next time you spot a woodpecker flitting by or a tanager alighting in a tree, take a moment to appreciate the beauty and biology behind its rusty red rear!
Conclusion
In summary, the rufous tail refers to the reddish-brown tail feathers found on many bird species around the world. Rufous plumage contains a pigment called pheomelanin that gives it that cinnamon to burnt sienna hue. It serves many important functions for birds beyond just looking pretty. Camouflage, communication, balance, defense, and temperature regulation all rely on the dynamic, decorative rufous tail. It provides critical visual advantages for birds that inhabit dense forests and woodlands. We can support species with this adaption by conserving their natural habitats. The next time you see a red-tailed bird, take a minute to admire the selective benefits of this colorful feature.
