Feathered Palettes: The Science of Bird Colors Presented by Dr. Jenna McCullough

Have you ever wondered how birds produce their dazzling hues? September’s Yolo Bird Alliance program features Dr. Jenna McCullough, who will take us behind the science of feather coloration—from the pigments that turn Northern Flicker feathers red or yellow to the surprising mechanisms birds use to create pure white plumage. Expect an evening that blends birdwatching wonder with cutting-edge, museum-based science.

The public is invited to join the Yolo Bird Alliance and its members for the monthly general meeting on September 17, 2025. The featured speaker is Dr. Jenna McCullough. Her topic is Feathered Palettes: The Science of Bird Colors. She will present via Zoom, and attendees can be on Zoom or in-person at the Davis Senior Center at 646 A Street in Davis. The meeting is free, and the presentation begins at 7:00 p.m. and will end at 8:50 p.m. People attending in-person are welcome to mingle following the conclusion of the Q&A portion, until 8:50.

Dr. McCullough grew up in Boise, Idaho, and earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Biology, and in Wildlife Resources at the University of Idaho. She went on to complete her MSc and PhD at the University of New Mexico, where she studied kingfisher evolution. She recently moved to Los Angeles to begin a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellowship at UCLA and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County where she will be studying how birds produce white colors.
This event is free, and you do not need to be a member of Yolo Bird Alliance. To attend the Meeting online via Zoom you must register, by pasting the link below into your browser
- https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/8ok7YgSRTEO25HVmwuAWMQ

Also check out other Meetups in Davis.