Accipiter Eye Color Change

[StrangeTurtle]

What actually causes accipiters eyes to change color? On a chemical level? are there any advantages to yellow vrs red?

[Cedar77]

Juveniles have yellow irises, mature Accipters have red irises,atb, Dina

[StrangeTurtle]

Well.... yeah..... I asked "why" they change not "when" they change, but thanks all the same.

[WhiteTail]

Originally Posted by Cedar77

Juveniles have yellow irises, mature Accipters have red irises,atb, Dina

Most European species of accipiter & buteo start as OffBlue & work to yellow or Orange.

I think what StrangeTurtle is asking..
Is why Some Accipiter species Turn from the common mature eye colour of Yellow into deep RED later in life.

And what is the cause of this, as none of the species that have been noted to turn red
Change at a certain age, and some dont change at all

What is the influencing factor if not time?

[Cedar77]

Sorry, I misunderstood the question, thanks, Marc, for explaining that to me. I have been told that Barred Owls have dark yellow legs due to their largely aquatic diet, could the eye coloration be due to diet? Atb, Dina

[DavidGallagher]

I read in a book about a goshawk which had s deformity in it's eyelid, the birds other eye was starting to change colour, based on this it would suggest that light plays an important factor. I will post pics from the book later when u get in