What is an eye-ring?
The eye-ring of a bird is a ring of tiny feathers or bare skin that surrounds the outside of the eye.
The eye-ring is often decorative.
The colour of the eye-ring might be the same colour as its surrounding feathers. This makes it difficult to notice.
The colour of the eye-ring might be a different colour from its surrounding feathers (called a contrasting colour). This makes it easy to notice.
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM
Hadida Ibis with a black eye-ring (the same colour as its feathers)
Grey Parrot with a white eye-ring (the same colour as its feathers)
Ostrich with a pink eye-ring (different from its white feathers – it is a contrasting colour)
Superb Starling with a white eye-ring (a contrasting colour)
Greater Blue-Eared Starling with a yellow eye-ring (a contrasting colour)
Australian Pelican with a yellow eye-ring (a contrasting colour)
Macaw with a black eye-ring (a contrasting colour)