Many birds-of-paradise species emit light through their plumage, study finds

The light emitted by the birds ranged from teal blue wavelengths to green. Photograph: Nature Picture Library/Alamy

Birds-of-paradise are known for their bright and colourful plumage, but it turns out they are even more dazzling than previously thought.

Researchers have found 37 of the 45 species show biofluorescence – in other words, patches of their plumage or other body parts absorb UV or blue light, and emit light at lower frequencies.