Feather fluorophores of the Tawny Frogmouth (Podargiformes: Podargus strigoides )

The feathers of Tawny Frogmouths (Podargus strigoides) have been reported as the most spectacularly fluorescent of nocturnal birds in Australia, but the fluorophores have not been identified. We chemically extracted numerous fluorophores from the feathers of a Tawny Frogmouth from the Wet Tropics region of Far North Queensland, Australia. Four of the extracted fluorophores matched the molecular masses and fluorescence colour profiles of protoporphyrin, pentacarboxylic porphyrin, hexacarboxylic pophyrin and coproporphyrin. Several other molecules remain unidentified. The intensity and potential diversity of fluorescent compounds are commensurate with external observations of feather fluorescence.