Strange bird species that emits scent like orange and tangerine peels

Birds have the ability to emit scent to attract mates.

By pageTech Times, a special bird in the North Pacific that has the ability to emit a special scent, smelling like citrus peels, to attract mates during breeding season.

Males are more attractive than females

This interesting bird isAethia cristatella- a species in the family Alcidae. They are distributed throughout the North Pacific, especially in the Bering Sea.

The bird is 28-17cm long, has a wingspan of 34-50cm, weighs 195-330g, with females being slightly smaller than males and having a distinctive crest on their heads. The bird feeds by diving in deep water, eating mollusks and a variety of small marine animals.

For a long time, scientists have debated whether birds have a sense of smell or not. Until now, birdsAethia cristatellais solid evidence that they not only possess a sense of smell but can also produce a distinctive scent that helps attract mates.

Both males and females have a scent, but the male's scent is stronger and more distinctive, reflecting the male's dominance. Their scent is like that of orange peels.

In particular, birds with stronger odors are often stronger and more gallant. This may be the criteria for choosing a husband for bird "sisters".

The research was conducted by marine biologist Hector Douglas (USA) and colleagues for more than 10 years to better understand the mechanism of their "love confession" scent.

Where is the secret?

Birds can secrete a characteristic aldehyde.

By pageIFL ScienceIn 2002, while sailing around Koniuji Lagoon, Alaska, USA, marine biologist Hector Douglas suddenly smelled a tangerine-like scent somewhere in the air. Looking around, he discovered a flock of birds.Aethia cristatellafly across

Douglas was immediately drawn to the birds and theorized that the scent of citrus peels was theirs. Douglas and his colleagues obtained permission to capture more than a dozen birds and raise them separately in the laboratory.

He and his colleagues began studying the birds, with the goal of determining how strong their scent was and what it was used for.

The team found that the scent was secreted through the neck hairs, but was more concentrated in males. The scent was produced by a compound called aldehyde, which is commonly found in the skin of aromatic fruits and is also used in perfumes.

For humans, scent often makes the first impression, for birdsAethia cristatellaAlso, these birds also "compete" each other's scents to see if they are compatible enough to "become husband and wife" with each other.

Not only does it help birds find mates, Douglas's research team believes that this scent also helps birds reduce the effects of parasites on their bodies such as ticks and mosquitoes.

Behavioral ecology studies also show that birdsAethia cristatellaare the species that secrete the strongest scent in the animal world, making it difficult for their mates to resist their attraction.