By Susan Milius
The patch of skin above a hawk’s beak just looks orange-yellow to us, but to another hawk, it may broadcast ultraviolet (UV) sex appeal.
For the first time, researchers have shown that this bit of skin, called a cere, strongly reflects light in the UV range. The UV reflection isn’t as bright as the orangey light coming from the patch, but it’s distinct, report François Mougeot and Beatriz Arroyo of the Center for Ecology and Hydrology in Banchory, Scotland.