Can Rabbits See Color? An Expert Opinion

Most human beings are able to see all colors apart from a few color-blind individuals. But have you ever wondered, can rabbits see color?

Rabbits definitely love carrots, but can they tell that carrots are actually red in color? Do they perceive their environment differently when it comes to colors?

In this article, we will be diving deep into whether rabbits are actually able to see colors or not. Read along and let us go together on this discovery journey.

Let’s get straight to it.

Can Rabbits See Color?

Rabbits can definitely see colors but are partially color blind. They have a limited color vision compared to us human beings. Bunnies have photoreceptors cells known as cones that allow them to discriminate different light wavelengths, and hence being able to see different colors. They only have blue and green cones allowing them to perceive only green and blue colors but not the red color, humans have three cones (red, green & blue) which help in perceiving all wavelengths due to varying light sensitivity by the three cones.

A little bit of biology knowledge to help with a better understanding of how rabbits’ eye works.

Vertebrates (animals with backbones or spinal cord) have photoreceptors known as cones and rods. Rods help with vision in low light levels (scotopic vision) whereas cones help with vision in higher light levels (photopic vision). Scotopic visions allow for better vision in dim light or in dark places while photopic vision allows for better vision in bright(er) light.

Rabbits have a higher ratio of rods to cones allowing them to see better in dim or dark lighting conditions. They, however, can’t see color in the dark – no one actually can. Color can only be seen/perceived in bright light conditions from cones.

Humans have a short wavelength, middle wavelength, and long-wavelength sensitive cones. Each of these cones has maximum sensitivity for red, blue, and red colors. Each of the cones is able to perceive different wavelengths and since different colors have different wavelengths we are able to interpret them as different colors.

Rabbits on the other hand only have green and blue cones which limit them in terms of how they discriminate wavelengths of lights and how they perceive different colors from the blue and green cones (photoreceptors).

It’s due to this, that bunnies can’t see all the colors.

Comparing the two cones (blue & green) that rabbits have, they have more green cones than blue cones. They, therefore, don’t pay so much attention to the different colors. It’s safe to conclude that rabbits are partially color blind since they can’t see all the colors.

With that said, what about their vision? How good are rabbits’ vision? Let’s find out.

Do Rabbits Have Good Vision?

Rabbits have great vision. They have a larger field of view (almost 360-view of their environment) with only two blind spots – in front of their eyes and behind their ears. This helps them with staying alert in the wild as well as being able to prevent themselves from predators.

Rabbits have a panoramic field of vision allowing them to see predators from all angles. They also use their nose to perceive areas around the blind spot located in front of their eyes. They use their twitching nose to perceive this area allowing them to be super alert to their surrounding always.

Rabbits have great vision and are able to see both in bright light and in the dark thanks to their photoreceptors that help them see in the dark (rods).

Bunnies tend to be farsighted, meaning they are able to see any approaching predators from very far and from any angle.

Other benefits of better vision in rabbits allows them to easily find food easily as well as be able to find hiding spots from predators.

Are Rabbits Color Blind?

Rabbits are not completely color blind but are partially color blind. They only have green and blue cones which are photoreceptors cells that perceive different color wavelengths. They lack the red cones making them partially color blind. Human beings have red, green, and blue cones allowing us to see all colors comfortably.

Rabbits’ vision is limited to just two color vision (blue and green) making them dichromatic in nature. This is a form of color blindness in which only two light wavelengths are distinguished rather than the usual three.

Rabbits, however, don’t really pay that much attention to color.

Conclusion

Rabbits can definitely see colors but their color vision is somehow limited compared to human beings. Their photoreceptors allow them to discriminate different color wavelengths. They, however, only have blue and green cones. They lack the red cones that help with understanding the red color.

It’s due to this that they are also considered color blind but when it comes to their vision, they have a great vision that helps keep them away from predators.