The American coot is a somewhat drab water bird with gray and black feathers and a white beak, common in wetlands throughout North America. Coot chicks, however, sport outrageously bright orange and red feathers, skin, and beaks. A new study explains how the bright coloring of coot chicks fits in with the reproductive strategy of their less colorful parents.

Click here for more information.: Solved: mystery of ‘ornamented’ coot chicks has surprising explanation, #ornithology research news via @RareBirdAlertUK