This is due to the fact that melanins will polymerize, making all-black feathers very robust; as the largest forces encountered by bird feathers affect the flight feathers, the large amount of melanin gives them better resistance against being damaged in flight.
Isto débese a que as melaninas se polimerizan, facendo que as plumas escuras sexan moi robustas; e dadas as grandes forzas ás que se expoñen as plumas das aves no voo, a gran cantidade de melanina dálles unha maior resistencia contra os danos debidos ao uso.