SEPARATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF CAROTENOIDS IN BIRDS PLUMAGE BY HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY DIODE-ARRAY DETECTION

The coloured feathers of Carduelis spinus (Siskin), C. flammea (Redpol l), Serinus serinus (Serin), Loxia curvirostra (Crossbill), Pinicola e nucleator (Grossbeak), Carpodacus roseus (Pallas Rosefinch) and Pyrrhu la pyrrhula (Bullfinch) have been extracted with a new procedure using mild conditions (a few minutes at room temperature). After the separa tion of melanines and proteins, the extracts were analyzed by HPLC-MS and HPLC-UV-Vis, The main components of the pigments were identified i n all the species examined; moreover, UV-Vis and MS data were collecte d also for the minor components. These data suggest that minor compone nts are generally cis isomers accompanying the predominant all-trans i somers.