Can birds see color?

goldenboy

goldenboy

Well-known member
Okay here is a question for us to ponder and discuss since we can't hunt right now! I hunted with a farmer out in North Dakota who strongly requested we all wear camo instead of blaze orange. He thought that the birds spooked away from blaze orange hats and vests and felt that especially late season birds became knowledgeable of blaze orange. Anybody feel that way? I know some states require some orange but do you limit your blaze orange because you have felt that the birds are wary of color?
 
Birds definitely can see color. Try duck hunting in a blaze orange suit.

Given that, I doubt it makes much difference. I've seen pheasants run headlong out of the end of a cut milo field when someone slammed a truck door a quarter of a mile away. They learn real quick that trucks, dogs, bolts slamming shut and probably orange vests mean trouble. I don't think its necessary or possible to sneak up on wary, late season birds by wearing camouflage.
 
A fellow I worked with said he rings a field with blaze orange to get the birds to fly where he wants.

When hunting by myself, I put my orange vest inside my jacket. If I see someone, I put the orange outside. If I see cars parked nearby I wear the orange.
 
I was hunting with my cousin and Dad many years ago , they were lit up with blaze orange , I had misplaced my orange vest and used the one I dove hunt in .

We were walking a creek lined with plum thickets near a CRP Patch , My dad and cousin on one side me on the other .

Almost all the birds flushed my way , halfway through the field I was having them toss me shells I was getting some many shots .
 
Sneem I think you made some good points in your post.

Pheasants are similar to turkeys. They can hear and see very well.

If you're moving through a field with camo they'll still see you moving so I don't think Blazed orange vs. camo makes much of a difference.

If you were sitting still and calling them in, hunting them as you would a turkey, then camo would help. Though I have to say, more than a few times (with blazed orange on), laying with my chest to the ground with some weeds concealing me, I've called wild pheasants within a few feet of me.

Nick
 
1pheas4 said:
Though I have to say, more than a few times (with blazed orange on), laying with my chest to the ground with some weeds concealing me, I've called wild pheasants within a few feet of me.

Nick
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"Here chick chick chick chick!" Something like that? :laugh:

What sounds do you make to attract a rooster pheasant and do you use a turkey call or just your mouth?
 
Lol. I use my mouth to chirp like a hen pheasant looking for love. A few years back, despite being fall, I had two roosters in front of me fighting over my imaginary hen.:D

In the spring I use a rooster call along with a hen. if conditions are right and they're in the mood they come right in. Especially if you in the middle of a roosters territory. They'll get all worked up over a rooster call.
Nick
 
More importantly, other hunters see color. As order of priorities go, me staying safe/not accidently getting shot trumps me harvesting a Pheasant. I wear blaze orange religiously, as does my dog. I've had several parrots - they discern color very well.
 
Back to original inquiry, having done no research, and therefore having no doubt that I am correct...

birds just gotta see color, else why would so many of the males have evolved into such gorgeous plumage and the hens be camoflaged? Pheasants and Wood Ducks as my prime examples, but Cardinals and the like follow the logic.

Roosters out strutting their stuff, all flashy and wishing they had spats for their spurs, and hens being much more practical, disguised to make a safe home, already getting set up for a nice nest, maybe with some curtains and a breakfast nook.



:D
 
david0311

Kismet said:
Back to original inquiry, having done no research, and therefore having no doubt that I am correct...

birds just gotta see color, else why would so many of the males have evolved into such gorgeous plumage and the hens be camoflaged? Pheasants and Wood Ducks as my prime examples, but Cardinals and the like follow the logic.

Roosters out strutting their stuff, all flashy and wishing they had spats for their spurs, and hens being much more practical, disguised to make a safe home, already getting set up for a nice nest, maybe with some curtains and a breakfast nook.

Winner Best answer to question:cheers:
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Kismet said:
Back to original inquiry, having done no research, and therefore having no doubt that I am correct...

birds just gotta see color, else why would so many of the males have evolved into such gorgeous plumage and the hens be camoflaged? Pheasants and Wood Ducks as my prime examples, but Cardinals and the like follow the logic.

Roosters out strutting their stuff, all flashy and wishing they had spats for their spurs, and hens being much more practical, disguised to make a safe home, already getting set up for a nice nest, maybe with some curtains and a breakfast nook.



:D
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LOL dead on the money kismet. the males use their plumage to attract females. it is the way of the bird world. :)
 
I would definitely question whether or not wearing orange makes a difference as we're moving through cover with our four legged friends out ahead of us. It may give a blocker an edge to wear camo but the birds surely know we're there no matter what we are wearing I would think.
 
Forget the camo. Dress like the farmer that owns the place. :cheers:

Birds are not brain surgeons, but they remember things, and they can also get conditioned to respond with joy or fear or indifference. And they can surely tell people apart too. Our chickens always come running when they see my wife because she always gives them treats. They mostly ignore me, but when they start following me around I know their feeder is empty, because they remember I'm the one that fills it.

We also had a mean-azz rooster that would attack everyone in the family but me. He learned I would field goal kick him if he attacked me or came up with his hackles up, so he gave me plenty of space. He still kept attacking the rest of the family though, so he became chicken noodle soup... But he could easily tell the difference between me and other family members.

Anyway, I have no doubt that smart pheasants learn to identify hunters as a threat. But I'm going to keep my orange on and just shoot the dumb ones.
:laugh:
 
Kismet said:
Back to original inquiry, having done no research, and therefore having no doubt that I am correct...

birds just gotta see color, else why would so many of the males have evolved into such gorgeous plumage and the hens be camoflaged? Pheasants and Wood Ducks as my prime examples, but Cardinals and the like follow the logic.

Roosters out strutting their stuff, all flashy and wishing they had spats for their spurs, and hens being much more practical, disguised to make a safe home, already getting set up for a nice nest, maybe with some curtains and a breakfast nook.



:D
Click to expand...

It's a good hypothesis but I think there's more to it. If you read the article BrownDogs posted, it alludes to the fact that birds are sensitive to UV rays. Those iridescent colors we see on male birds are literally strobe lights in the females' eyes. That being said, of course they see color! But I don't think it matters unless you're trying to bring the birds in to you.
 
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