Hawk skin sends UV signal

The patch of skin above a hawk’s beak just looks orange-yellow to us, but to another hawk, it may broadcast ultraviolet (UV) sex appeal.

BETWEEN THE EYES. The bare skin just above the beak of this male Montagu’s harrier reflects ultraviolet light. Mougeot/Biol. Let.

For the first time, researchers have shown that this bit of skin, called a cere, strongly reflects light in the UV range.