Birds Go Gray In Old Age, And The Ladies Like It
Sexy And He Knows It As male blackbirds go grey in their old age, it makes them more attractive mates for females seeking an experienced nester. Richard Winston/BTO/BNPSWe aren't the only species that appreciates the George Clooney look. A little bit of gray can go a long way for a discerning bird. Researchers tracking garden variety birds in Britain have found that blackbirds, jackdaws and house sparrows go gray as they get older, and it ups their game when it comes to the ladies. As part of a yearlong study from the British Trust for Ornithology, more than 2,000 volunteers are recording odd-colored birds they see in their garden. So far, 700 birds from 35 species with abnormal plumage have been recorded -- the most common sighting being a blackbird with white feathers. For scientists, the fact that birds go gray in old age came as a surprise. Some...