A study published in PLOS ONE identified wood rats and western gray squirrels as hosts for Lyme disease-causing bacteria in California, but birds were found to be more important than previously recognized. The study also discovered a new subtype of Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia bissettii, in birds for the first time in California.
Researchers found that neighboring birds sang at significantly different rates than non-neighboring birds, according to a study published in PLOS ONE. Great tits use their songs to signal territory boundaries, and the study suggests that neighborhood structure may shape variation in territorial birdsong.
A study by University of Veterinary Medicine -- Vienna researchers has identified avian malaria in 15% of examined wild birds in Austria, showing that native bird populations are susceptible to the disease. Three different Plasmodium species were also found, with one new species still requiring analysis and classification.
A new study by Oxford University scientists reveals that migrating birds 'share the pain' of leading a v-formation, allowing them to take turns saving energy. The research found that individual birds spend an average of 32% of their time benefiting from flying in the updraft produced by another bird's flapping wings.
A study analyzing 308 bird species found that many birds switch between federal land managers throughout the year, highlighting the need for cooperation in conservation. The research used crowdsourced checklists and mapping to identify key habitats and inform land management priorities.
A study using satellite tracking reveals the home range of bearded vultures in the Pyrenees spans an average 11,700 km2, with notable differences between individuals. The birds' movements are also influenced by supplementary feeding points and predictable food sources.
A new study shows that focusing on biodiversity conservation can make current spending on threatened birds four times more effective. The research identifies the top 20 birds for safeguarding maximum biodiversity with minimum spend, including Botha's Lark, which currently receives no conservation spending.
Researchers tracked golden-winged warblers' migration and found they fled breeding grounds one to two days before powerful supercell storms. The birds sensed infrasound, a low-frequency sound wave that can travel thousands of kilometers, allowing them to alter their route and avoid severe weather.
Researchers observed golden-winged warblers leaving their breeding grounds before a historic tornado-producing storm, traveling 1,500 kilometers to avoid it. The birds likely sensed infrasound associated with the severe weather, a phenomenon known as tornadic storm avoidance behavior.
Researchers found that Dutch barnacle geese invest less energy in their immune systems, particularly resistance to general disease, compared to those breeding in the Netherlands. This allows for more energy available for reproduction and plumage changes.
Scientists sequenced the genomes of 48 bird species to reveal a new family tree for birds and understand their rapid evolution after the mass extinction. The study resolves fundamental questions about bird diversity and adaptations.
A large international group of scientists has published the results of a first-ever look at the genome of dozens of common birds, revealing how modern birds evolved after the mass extinction that wiped out dinosaurs. The research also provides insight into how songbirds learn to sing and brain connection with human speech.
A genetic study of 48 bird species reveals most modern birds diversified after dinosaurs became extinct, with some lineages emerging around 100 million years ago and others in a window of less than 10 million years afterwards.
A research team has found that tooth loss in birds occurred convergently with turtles and multiple mammalian lineages about 116 million years ago. The study used degraded remnants of tooth genes to determine when birds lost their teeth, suggesting a single loss of mineralized teeth in the common ancestor of all modern birds.
A study of bird genomes reveals that birds are less susceptible to viral invasions or purge them more effectively than mammals. The research, published in Science, identified five viral families that have left a footprint in the bird genome during evolution.
Researchers reconstructed a partial genome of the common ancestor of crocodiles, birds, and dinosaurs, showing an exceptionally slow rate of genome evolution in crocodilians. The team found that population sizes declined sharply during the last ice age, with alligator populations experiencing a continuous decline.
A major study has charted the burst of evolution that took place after the mass extinction of dinosaurs, giving rise to nearly all modern bird species. The research found that birdsong evolved independently at least twice, with parrots and songbirds gaining the ability to learn and mimic vocal activity.
A Texas Tech University biologist led a team of over 50 scientists in mapping the genomes of three crocodilians, including a crocodile, alligator, and gharial. The research reveals that crocodilian genomes change very slowly compared to birds, with an estimated 93% identical DNA across their genomes.
A recent study sequencing the genomes of 45 avian species has provided the most reliable tree of life for birds, shedding light on their rapid emergence from a mass extinction event. The findings reveal that modern birds diverged rapidly and their sex chromosomes have evolved differently than those in humans.
A team of scientists has developed a detailed map of the bird genome, shedding light on their evolution and diversification. The study reveals that birds have lost hundreds of genes compared to humans, leading to unique traits such as lighter skeletons and respiratory systems.
A research team from TUM discovered that birds use their oval-shaped heads to transform sound waves, allowing them to identify sounds from different elevation angles. This unique ability combines information from hearing and vision to improve orientation and evading predators.
A recent study sequencing the complete genomes of 45 avian species reveals that avian genomes have slower rates of evolutionary change compared to mammals. This finding suggests a larger-scale pattern of evolutionary stasis in avian genomes, with fewer opportunities for gene duplication and functional innovation.
The study reveals that modern birds diversified in the wake of the mass extinction that marked the end of the age of dinosaurs. The new analysis helps clarify the evolutionary relationships of major groups of birds, showing which groups share more recent ancestors and which are more distantly related to each other.
University of British Columbia researchers found that hummingbirds lose positional stability when exposed to moving visual patterns, even with prolonged exposure or combination of moving and stationary stimuli. This discovery highlights the complex relationship between a hummingbird's visual field and its ability to hover in place.
Researchers at UBC found that hummingbirds struggle to control their hovering when faced with visual stimuli like moving images. This phenomenon was observed in virtual reality experiments where birds were unable to adapt to dynamic visual input.
Researchers found that great tits learn new foraging techniques by observing others in their social network, adopting the dominant behavior and creating a stable tradition. Even when birds discover multiple methods, they tend to conform to the majority behavior, passing it down to the next generation.
Researchers found that birds can compare their own odor with potential mates and choose unrelated individuals as breeding partners. This suggests a link between mate choice and disease-resistance in birds, similar to mammals.
Bird populations across Europe have experienced sharp declines, with the majority of losses from the most common species. However, some less common birds have shown increases in recent years due to conservation efforts and legal protection. The study highlights the need for greater efforts to halt these continent-wide declines.
A University of Adelaide-led project has developed a new test that can identify vaccinated birds with live H5N1 virus, preventing the spread of emerging strains. This breakthrough could help track and control the highly contagious avian influenza virus.
A study found that ambient noise from human activities impairs nestling birds' ability to communicate effectively with their parents, leading to reduced responsiveness and increased vulnerability. Researchers suggest spreading urbanization and development can negatively impact birds' well-being through proximity to their habitat.
Researchers studied five bird species and developed a computer model to understand their efficient running behaviors. They found that birds prioritize energy conservation over stability, allowing for dynamic leg motion and adaptability. This study may inspire the development of more agile and efficient robots.
Researchers found that birds grouped together are less susceptible to West Nile virus infection, with a significant decrease in exposure compared to solo birds. This phenomenon, known as the 'encounter-dilution effect', suggests that individual risk is minimized when multiple birds roost together.
A study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers found that climate change is causing smaller, southerly distributed bird species to move northwards, altering the composition of winter bird communities in eastern North America. This shift is likely driven by warmer temperatures and changing precipitation patterns.
A 1985 mass mortality and a 2012 severe cold snap led to the deaths of nearly one-third of Camargue flamingo population. The study suggests that freezing temperatures increased the birds' energy demands, tipping them into starvation. The researchers found that the 2012 event had a lower death toll due to milder temperatures.
A 15-year study found thousands of birds are attracted to artificial lights during their first flights, leading to high mortality rates. Turning street lights off decreased the number of grounded fledglings, suggesting a link between light pollution and bird deaths.
A study found that grassland fields in southern Wisconsin supported over three times as many bird species as cornfields, including 10 imperiled species. The research suggests that diverse bioenergy crop fields could benefit birds more than less diverse fields, making grasslands an acceptable tradeoff for biomass production.
Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding how birds evolved from dinosaurs by studying fossil and developmental data, revealing the fusion of two bones to form a semilunate bone. The study clarifies the identity of wrist bones in both groups, shedding light on the evolutionary reversal of a lost bone.
A comprehensive family tree of meat-eating dinosaurs reveals the gradual emergence of bird-like features, such as feathers and wishbones. The study supports a theory that sudden evolutionary changes led to an explosion in avian diversity, resulting in thousands of species today.
Researchers found no significant difference in take-off performance between peacocks with and without their iconic trains. Despite initial expectations, the elaborate plumage does not seem to be a costly sacrifice for male birds. However, it may still affect flight stability and running ability.
Researchers found that short-distance migratory birds increase their flight speed in spring to reach breeding grounds first and secure resources. In contrast, long-distance migrants take a more leisurely pace in autumn as they are not under the same time pressure.
Researchers found baby birds can right themselves in midair by pumping their wings asymmetrically, a talent that could have helped early birds develop flying skills. This innate ability, present in 25% of day-old chicks, suggests that dinosaurs took flight from trees before developing flapping flight.
A new study by York University researchers found that juvenile songbirds, like wood thrushes, travel longer routes and take more frequent stopovers during their first migration than experienced adults. This delay may help young birds avoid intense competition for breeding sites.
A new study published in PNAS suggests that migratory birds evolved from species that lived year-round in North America. Researchers created a model to analyze the evolutionary changes of migratory bird species and found that most species originated from temperate regions before migrating to tropical areas.
A new study by University of Chicago researchers found that long-distance migration in New World birds evolved from ancestral species in North America. Contrary to previous hypotheses, the team discovered that shifts southward were more common than northward movements.
Scientists have reconstructed a detailed family tree of dinosaurs and their bird descendants, revealing that theropod dinosaurs gave rise to modern birds by shrinking and adapting. The study found that these avian ancestors evolved feathers, wishbones, and wings four times faster than other dinosaurs.
Researchers found that flocking starlings aim to maintain an optimum density to gather data on surroundings, creating a dynamic pattern of light and dark. This pattern is crucial for individual birds within the flock to gather vital information.
Researchers found that birds consume the male reproductive organs while visiting Axinaea flowers, which are attracted by sugar-rich stamen-appendages. This unique mechanism involves a complex 'bellows' organ for pollen dispersal and differs from known bird pollination systems.
A new study using geolocators on lark sparrows reveals individual migration routes and differences in pace. The birds took unique routes to Central Mexico, differing in their overall pace.
Researchers discovered a specialized bird pollination system in Axinaea flowers, where birds consume male reproductive organs to receive pollen and nutrients. This complex mechanism involves the 'bellows' organ, which blasts pollen onto the birds' beaks as they forage.
Researchers found that some bird species have evolved recognizable egg patterns, such as blotches and markings, to detect cuckoo eggs. These signature patterns provide a powerful defense against cuckoo trickery, increasing the likelihood of host birds rejecting foreign eggs.
A UCI-Wesleyan study found that caterpillars with varied diets are less camouflaged and easier prey for birds. This increased risk is offset by the benefits of reduced predation on plants that caterpillars with restricted diets consume.
A new study found that migratory birds are responsible for spreading plant species across the Americas, with seeds trapped in their feathers offering clues to plant distribution between hemispheres. The research provides critical insight into the ecology and evolution of plants represented across both continents.
A team of researchers found that migratory birds carry small plant fragments, including mosses and spores, on their feathers, which can be used to establish new plant populations. This discovery suggests that birds may play a role in the long-distance dispersal of plants.
Researchers have discovered a single-ovary reproductive system in the basal bird Jeholornis and derived enantiornithine birds from China, indicating that this adaptation occurred gradually during the evolution of dinosaurs and basal birds. This finding supports the hypothesis that birds lost one ovary due to energetic pressures of flight.
Researchers found a striking lack of diversity in the earliest known fossil bird fauna, with larger birds and water birds missing from the sample. The scientists applied a statistical technique to modern-day birds to relate physical characteristics to behavior, diet, and habitat.
A new study by the University of Adelaide's Australian Centre for Ancient DNA has solved a 150-year-old evolutionary mystery about the origins of giant flightless birds. The research found that the kiwi is most closely related to the extinct Madagascan elephant bird, contrary to previous claims.
Researchers found that European birds are expanding their ranges into UK nature reserves, but non-native wetland birds such as the Black Swan and Egyptian Goose are also invading protected areas. The study highlights the importance of conservation efforts to tackle these invasions and protect native species.
Researchers from the University of Missouri found that juvenile songbirds are vulnerable to environmental hazards, especially during the first three weeks after leaving their parents' nests. The study emphasizes the importance of providing suitable habitats for young birds to survive on their own.
A study found that birds underwent rapid body size changes to exploit new ecological niches, while other dinosaur lineages stagnated. The team estimated the body mass of 426 species using leg bone thickness, revealing a prolonged period of high evolutionary rates in the lineage leading to birds.
A study found that dinosaurs showed rapid rates of body size evolution in early forms, but these slowed down over time. However, the evolutionary line leading to birds continued to change size at this rate for 170 million years, producing new ecological diversity not seen in other dinosaurs.