A REVIEW OF COLOR-PRODUCING MECHANISMS IN FEATHERS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON PREVENTIVE CONSERVATION STRATEGIES

Abstract

Lighting policies as part of a preventive strategy for feather collections in museums often do not consider the different colorant systems found in the feathers. Ornithological research about plumage coloration, while targeting an understanding of signaling in bird behavior, provides valuable information about different colorant systems and their response to light exposure. Because photosensitivity varies for different colorants, it is important for conservators to be able to identify colorants as a first step in designing a preventive strategy for feathers. Visual assessment methods are described as a means for helping conservators distinguish colorant mechanisms. Color measurement methods, especially as used to monitor color change, must be able to reproducibly measure feather colors despite their complex geometries. Measurement methods are referenced that permit reproducibility by accounting for the variations in measurement angles and feather position. Studies reviewed indicate that pigment-based color and structural color do not have the same light sensitivity, with pigment color being more sensitive. This light sensitivity will depend on the nature, concentration, and chemical environment of the pigment. Recent work provides evidence that the insensitivity of structural colors has been over-simplified and photochemical effects beyond fading are necessary and important directions for further study.

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