Colours birds can see,

Stoner

hi all,

I feed various birds in my garden, I have nyjer seeds for finches as they are my favorite visitor, i don't mind feeding starlings but if their food runs out they shake the nyjer seeds everywhere.

So I fixed a shopping basked to my wall yesterday and hung the seeds from it,

I cut some of the wire mesh out to make holes big enough for finches but too small for other birds, this morning I saw that I there were two finches at it one outside looking suspiciously at the other bird who was feeding away, so he got in but he had trouble getting out, I've added three extra holes but it was clear that the bird found it difficult to remember/see the holes that he gets into the feeder from.
So having added three extra holes to the spots that he was trying the hardest to get out from, I though I'd paint a frame tonight around the larger holes to help the birds identify a route out, they have 8 ways in and out now, I was thinking of using nail varnish it will be dry in no time, the birds don't show up after 16:00 anyway,

Can someone recommend a colour that would standout the best please.
thank you.

swifts need our help!

Birds have better vision than us including ultra violet. A chicken wire cage would be better

Stoner

swifts need our help! wrote: »

Birds have better vision than us including ultra violet. A chicken wire cage would be better

thanks for the response, not really what I was looking for though, the basket is perfect, it's hinged on a wall and is strong enough to hang the feeders from and the bars are smooth.

To to ask the question another way, what colours would standout most to a bird, I'm just looking to get some contrast for them that's all, blue maybe?

kylith

AFAIK they have similar colour vision to us. I'd probably colour the opening red; it's a common colour for bird-pollinated flowers so it'd be a safe bet that they can see it.