Carotenoids in bird plumage: the complement of red pigments in the plumage of wild and captive bullfinch ( Pyrrhula pyrrhula)

Abstract

We have studied the carotenoid pigments in the red plumage of male bullfinch ( Pyrrhula pyrrhula) immediately following capture and after the completion of the moult in captivity under dietary control. Astaxanthin, adonirubin, and α-doradexanthin, as well as papilioeritrinone and canthaxanthin (in lower amounts) are in every case the dominant carotenoids in the plumage pigment of wild individuals. α-Doradexanthin is responsible for the reddish-rose colour, which captive individuals adopt after a diet consisting mainly of lutein as disposable carotenoid. The red pigmentation biogenesis of captive bullfinch is compared with those of other red pigmented Carduelinae in which male individuals usually lose the red colour in captivity, namely Carpodacus roseus, Carpodacus rubricilloides, Uragus sibiricus, Carduelis cannabina, Carduelis flammea, Loxia curvirostra and Pinicola enucleator.