Light-colored feathers may help migrating birds stay cool on long flights
Images of more than 10,000 bird species reveal that farther fliers tend to have lighter feathers
![image of a flock of white and black sanderling birds](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/120321_jl_migrating-birds-feathers_feat.jpg?fit=1030%2C580&ssl=1)
A flock of sanderlings (Calidris alba) flies over open water. A new analysis of virtually all bird species suggests that migratory birds, like sanderlings, are on average lighter in color than non-migrators.
Pablo F. Petracci