Australian and New Zealand scientists have used prehistoric feathers to help map the color of giant extinct birds and said Wednesday they believe their method could help reconstruct the appearance of other extinct bird species.
The researchers retrieved ancient DNA from four species of New Zealand's extinct Moa from feathers found in caves and rock shelters and believed to be at least 2,500 years old.
The native Moa — a flightless, powerfully built forager that stood over 8 feet (2.50 meters) tall and weighed 550 pounds (250 kilograms) — ranged widely in southern New Zealand before the arrival of man.
Using DNA analysis, scientists from New Zealand's Landcare Research and Australia's Adelaide University reconstructed the mainly plain brown plumage of the stout legged Moa, heavy-footed Moa, upland Moa and South Island giant Moa.
"Some had white-tipped feathers to create a speckled appearance" that they used as camouflage, said researcher Nicolas Rawlence from the university's Australian Center for Ancient DNA.
The findings were published Wednesday in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of London.
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