Color in Nature: Secrets of Animal Survival

by Stephen Aitken

Animals like rainbow-colored parrots, red-nosed mandrills and brilliant blue peacocks use their vibrant colors to survive.

Golden finches, bright blue mandarin fish and orange poison dart frogs use their colors to get noticed. Arctic foxes and octopuses change their colors to blend into their habitats. Birds, mammals, frogs, fish, reptiles and insects use a full palette of color to defend themselves, hunt for food, attract mates, hide from predators and often to stand out from their rivals.

But even with the power of color on their side, many of these species, their habitats and food sources are under threat. We need to conserve the entire spectrum of the animal world to maintain a healthy and colorful planet for all life on Earth.

88 pages, Hardcover

First published February 17, 2026

Reviews

[Meghan Bohn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, y'all, we've got multiple factual errors. Page 32 says 'the male bird-of-paradise'. There are 39 species, and the description doesn't match the one pictured and there's no other species info given. Page 40 talks about how ruby-throated hummingbirds match cardinal flowers via adaptive evolution, and then further down the page how the red patch is for impressing females and intimidating rivals. Page 63 says male scarlet macaws have more vibrant colors; there's no sexual dimorphism in that species (that's why breeders do DNA testing). Finally, page 73 has a photo from Getty Images of what is identified as a 'monarch butterfly'. I'm pretty sure it's a Painted Lady butterfly; regardless, it's not a monarch.
There's a lot of text in the last part of the book given to the various threats facing species, but all the suggested actions focus on what kids can do, with minimal acknowledgment that adults are working on, and responsible for, the issues. Cannot recommend.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous, color-saturated photographs show off the power of color in the wild.