It is almost unfair, that birds are blessed with boundless colour while we humans must content ourselves with various shades of brownish grey – in some cases greyish brown. Glorious colour makes many species of bird easy to identify, and the goldfinch is an excellent example. But colours do not only appear as large, clear, shining and characteristic blocks but even in the tiniest details and they can also be crucial as camouflage. Or to reveal a bird’s state of health, for example to a possible mate.

Ornithologist, birdwatcher, author and photographer. Since his debut in 1984 Magnus Ullman has published around 15 books on birds, the latest, on their colours, in autumn 2022. He is also responsible for hundreds of articles for various ornithological newspapers, notably Vår Fågelvärld.