CAROTENOIDS IN BIRD PLUMAGE - THE PATTERN IN A SERIES OF RED-PIGMENTED CARDUELINAE

We studied the carotenoid pigments in the red plumage of a series of p alearctic Carduelinae (Carduelis cannabina, Carduelis flammea, Carduel is hornemanni, Carpodacus roseus, Carpodacus rubricilloides, Carpodacu s trifasciatus, Carpodacus vinaceus and Uragus sibiricus). The pigment s were extracted under mild conditions and the extract analysed by HPL C coupled with mass and UV-vis spectroscopy. 4-Oxo-carotenoids are res ponsible for the red colour in these species. 3-Hydroxy-echinenone is, in every case, the dominant carotenoid in the pigment followed by ast axanthin and adonirubin in variable amounts. 4-Oxo-rubixanthin and 4-o xo-gazaniaxan-thin are also present in substantial amounts in some ind ividuals of C. hornemanni and C. roseus. In C. roseus and in C. vinace us, alpha-doradexanthin was also identified as an important component of the red colour. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.