孔雀羽毛 Peacock feathers (© sarayut Thaneerat/Getty Images)

孔雀羽毛 Peacock feathers (© sarayut Thaneerat/Getty Images)

华贵的色彩 Regal radiance

绚丽多彩的孔雀羽毛

孔雀或许是世界上最色彩斑斓的鸟类。当雄孔雀开屏求偶时，尾羽上的“伪眼”会反射出鲜艳夺目的光泽，以此来吸引雌孔雀。孔雀羽毛迷人的色彩并非来自色素，而是来自羽毛内部的光子晶体结构，也就是“结构色”。结构色十分华丽，能随视角和条件变幻。当交配季节结束，雄孔雀的尾羽就会开始脱落，这正是收集这些漂亮羽毛的好时候。

Bright and colorful peacock feathers

Peacock feathers, multicolored and radiant, are instantly recognizable. Their signature 'eyespots' flash in the light when a male displays its tail plumage for a nearby female, known as a 'peahen.'

The shimmering, iridescent effect is due to the tiny, crystal-like structures of the peacock’s feathers. As the feathers shift, so does the color. This brilliant show is all done to attract a mate. When mating season is over, males lose their feathers, making it easy for us to collect them for display, art, or simply a reminder of nature's beauty.