Table 1.

Species included in the study. (The sws1-pigments are classified by type and when known, their λ_max is given in nanometres. n_OMT gives the number of individuals and (number of eyes) for which OMT was averaged. A dash indicates missing data.)

order	common name	species name	sws1 pigment	reference pigment	λT0.5 (nm)	nOMT	reference OMT
Psittaciformes	Bourke's parrot	Neopsephotus bourkii	UVS	[8,12,13]b	334	3(3)	this study
	budgerigar	Melopsittacus undulatus	UVS, 371	[14]	320	3(5)	[10]
	crimson rosella	Platycercus elegans	UVS, 363	[12]	319	1(2)	[12]
Passeriformes	common starling	Sturnus vulgaris	UVS, 362	[15]	337	5c	[15]
	common blue tit	Cyanistes (Parus) caeruleus	UVS, 372	[16]	316	1(1)	[16]
	great tit	Parus major	UVS	[8,13,17]b	314	1(2)	this study
	common blackbird	Turdus merula	UVS, 373	[16]	343	1(1)	[16]
	song thrush	Turdus philomelos	UVS	[8,13,17]b	335	1(1)	this study
	Gouldian finch	Erythrura gouldiae	UVS, 370	[18]	315	1(1)	[18]
	cut-throat finch	Amadina fasciata	UVS, 370	[18]	316	1(1)	[18]
	white-headed munia	Lonchura maja	UVS, 373	[18]	317	1(1)	[18]
	plum-headed finch	Neochmia modesta	UVS, 373	[18]	314	1(1)	[18]
	Timor zebra finch	Taeniopygia guttata	UVS, 359	[14]	321	2(4)	this study
	rook	Corvus frugilegus	VS	[13]b	365	2(4)	this study
	common magpie	Pica pica	VS	[13]b	370	2(3)	this study
	green catbird	Ailuroedus crassirostris	VS, 406	[19]	340	1(1)	[19]
	great bowerbird	Chlamydera nuchalis	VS, 404	[19]	349	1(1)	[19]
	regent bowerbird	Sericulus chrysocephalus	VS, 408	[19]	349	1(1)	[19]
	satin bowerbird	Ptilonorhynchus violaceus	VS, 410	[19]	344	1(1)	[19]
	spotted bowerbird	Chlamydera maculata	VS	[19]	351	1(1)	[19]
Strigiformes	burrowing owl	Athene cunicularia	VS	a	359	1(2)	this study
	northern long-eared owl	Asio otus	VS	a	356	1(1)	this study
	tawny owl	Strix aluco	VS	a	353	1(2)	this study
	boreal (Tengmalm's) owl	Aegolius funereus	VS	a	335	1(1)	this study
Falconiformes	Eurasian buzzard	Buteo buteo	VS, 405	[13]	375	1(2)	[20]
	Eurasian sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus	VS, 405	[13]	369	1(2)	[20]
	red kite	Milvus milvus	VS	[13]b	394	1(2)	[20]
	common kestrel	Falco tinnunculus	VS	[13]b	379	1(2)	[20]
Struthioniformes	ostrich	Struthio camelus	VS, 405	[21]	369	1(1)	[21]
Galliformes	domestic chicken	Gallus gallus domesticus	VS, 418	[14]	351	2(4)	[10]
	wild turkey	Meleagris gallopavo	VS, 420	[22]	355	1(1)	[22]
	Indian peafowl	Pavo cristatus	VS, 421	[23]	364	1(2)	[23]
Apodiformes	common swift	Apus apus	VS	[24]b	388	1(2)	this study
	green-backed firecrown	Sephanoides sephaniodes	VS	[24]b	310	2(—)	[11]
Columbiformes	rock dove	Columba livia	VS, 404	[14]	337	4(7)	[10]
Procellariiformes	wedge-tailed shearwater	Puffinus pacificus	VS, 406	[25]	335	1(1)	[25]
Podicipediformes	great crested grebe	Podiceps cristatus	VS	[8]	390	1(2)	this study
Anseriformes	mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	VS, 420	[26]	371	—	[26]

^aOwls are grouped as birds with VS-pigment although this is uncertain, see main text for details.

^bThe type of sws1-pigment is inferred from phylogeny.

^cOMT is based upon an average transmittance from five lenses, one aqueous humour, four corneas and one vitreous humour.