Research led by the University of Texas at Austin found that giant flightless birds had tiny brains processing vision, indicating a nocturnal lifestyle. The findings also revealed differences in olfactory bulbs between species, suggesting distinct habitats.
A new study provides the first survival estimates for small migratory birds crossing the Gulf of Mexico, revealing that fatter birds and stronger tailwinds significantly increase their chances of survival. By understanding these factors, conservation efforts can be implemented to improve birds' ability to cross the Gulf.
Scientists develop visual pattern that triggers long-term avoidance of high-risk areas by raptors, improving collision detection and reducing plane and wind turbine collisions. The 'looming' effect created by concentric black circles on a white background is effective in repelling birds from specific areas.
For the first time, researchers have shown that young wild sparrows can learn to sing a new tune by listening to experimental vocal tutors. The birds then pass on these new songs to subsequent generations, confirming the ability of wild birds to learn and adapt their songs through exposure to adult birds.
Researchers at Purdue University have found that red and blue LED lights can lead some birds to fly away, potentially preventing bird strikes. The study used a single-choice test to measure avoidance behavior in brown-headed cowbirds.
Researchers discover birds evolved a new vocal organ, syrinx, instead of modifying an existing one. The syrinx raises questions about changes in bird vocalization over time and sheds light on mechanisms driving new structure development.
Researchers discover Jinguofortis perplexus, a Pygostylia species with both bird-like and dinosaur-like features, providing insight into the evolution of modern birds. The study highlights the role of developmental plasticity in shaping the avian shoulder girdle.
A study examining the windpipes of birds, crocodiles, salamanders, mice, and cats found deep similarities in the presence of a reinforced airway structure, suggesting that the syrinx may have evolved for structural support. This challenges the long-held assumption that the syrinx is an evolutionary odd duck.
Researchers from UC San Diego use reinforcement learning to train gliders to navigate atmospheric thermals, achieving heights of 700 meters. The study highlights vertical wind accelerations and roll-wise torques as key cues for soaring birds, with implications for autonomous flying vehicle development.
Researchers estimate 4 billion birds migrate through the US each year, with an average return rate of 76% for short-distance migrants and 64% for long-distance migrants. The study reveals that tropical wintering species survive better than those in the US, despite longer migrations.
A new forecasting model uses Next-Generation Radar data to capture migratory patterns of birds with high spatial accuracy, explaining up to 81% of variation in migration timing and intensity across the U.S. The model can forecast movements up to a week ahead and estimate total bird numbers making the journey.
A study at the University of Exeter found that larger garden birds, such as house sparrows and greenfinches, dominate access to better food sources like sunflower hearts. Smaller bird species like blue tits and coal tits face limited access to quality food, pecking quickly to make the most of their time.
Researchers will combine novel tracking devices with weather radar data to gain insights into migratory birds' atmospheric habitats. The project aims to understand the impact of climate change on bird migration patterns and develop strategies for local adaptation.
Researchers created a new algorithm to safely herd flocks of birds away from airports, reducing bird strikes and potential damages. The drone-based system successfully diverted entire flocks without fragmenting their formation.
A recent study found that Fiordland penguins travel up to 7,000km in just eight weeks to reach sub-Antarctic waters for food. The authors believe the birds may be following an instinct rather than a need to forage in this region.
A study published in Frontiers in Zoology found that traffic noise may contribute to aging in Zebra finches, with birds exposed after fledging having shorter telomeres. The researchers suggest that this period is critical for song learning and development, making birds more sensitive to noise.
Researchers at the University of Delaware discovered that plants emit scent cues when under attack by insects, recruiting birds to provide a food source while defending crops. The study used Play-Doh larvae and dispensers to replicate plant volatiles, finding that birds were attracted to these cues more strongly than to a control measure.
Researchers found that scarlet macaws sequenced from Chaco Canyon and Mimbres areas in New Mexico shared the same haplogroup, indicating a single breeding population. This contradicts previous theories that ancestral Puebloan people brought birds back from Mexico, as transporting adolescent birds would be logistically difficult.
Zebra finches learn to distinguish between birdsongs using trial and error or observation. Trial-and-error methods are more robust for generalization, while observation is faster but less effective.
Researchers at Lund University tracked the flight height of two small bird species migrating from Scandinavia to Africa, finding they flew as high as 3,950m. The study used a data logger to measure acceleration, air pressure, and temperature during flight, revealing the birds' altitude adjustments in response to changing wind conditions.
A study reveals evidence of community collapse in Mojave birds, with 43% loss of previously documented bird species over the past century. Climate change, particularly decreased precipitation, is associated with the decline in Mojave birds, while surface water presence is linked to increased species richness.
Researchers found that fairy-wrens can learn to associate unfamiliar alarm calls with danger by listening to a chorus of familiar calls. This social learning allows birds to quickly adapt to new environments and may be relevant to conservation efforts.
Zebra finches partition hues from red to orange into two discrete categories, similar to human color perception. The birds' ability to distinguish between colors suggests a cognitive shortcut to reduce ambiguity in decision-making.
Golden-crowned sparrows have different ways to assess dominance status depending on whether the interaction is with a familiar bird or a stranger. With familiar birds, social recognition governs dominance relationships, while with strangers, crown plumage takes center stage.
The world's insectivorous birds consume a significant amount of energy annually, estimated to be comparable to that of the city of New York. Forest birds play a crucial role in suppressing pest insects, with their annual food intake being around three-quarters of the global prey biomass gathered by insectivorous birds.
Insectivorous birds consume between 400 and 500 million metric tonnes of insects per year, mainly beetles, flies, and other arthropods. This helps keep plant-eating insect populations under control, supporting forest ecosystems.
Researchers discovered a neural circuit in parrots that may underlie their intelligence, similar to the pontine nuclei found in primates. The medial spiriform nucleus, located in birds, is comparable in function to the pontine nuclei and plays a key role in higher-order processing and sophisticated behaviors.
A fossil of a banana-eating bird ancestor was found in North America, dating back 52 million years. The discovery suggests these birds once thrived outside the tropics, with long legs indicating they may have been ground-dwelling.
A recent study found the Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever virus in ticks collected from migrating birds in the Mediterranean basin. The discovery suggests that birds may contribute to the spread of the virus to new geographical areas. Continuing surveillance is essential to understand the ecology of the virus and prevent its potential spread.
A nearly complete skeleton of a new extinct pheasant species from China preserves the oldest evidence of modified vocalization sounds. The fossil features an extremely long and coiled trachea, similar to those found in birds with louder, lower-frequency songs.
Researchers found that between 5-20% of stick insect eggs were excreted unharmed after being fed to a bird species. The study suggests that this process could contribute to the dispersal of stick insects across different habitats, similar to how plants use animals for seed distribution.
A new study reveals that the asteroid impact that wiped out dinosaurs also caused a mass extinction of forests, leading to the demise of tree-dwelling birds. The research team analyzed fossil records and pollen evidence to conclude that the temporary loss of forests after the impact made it impossible for arboreal birds to survive.
Researchers analyzed plant fossil record and evolutionary relationships to conclude that global forest collapse led to the survival of only a few ancestral bird lineages. These early survivors adapted to life on the ground, laying the foundation for the diverse range of modern bird species.
Research tracking juvenile storks reveals that birds at the head of a flock use thermal winds more efficiently and flap less. The study suggests that individual variation in flight performance is linked to differences in finding and exploiting thermals.
A new study by San Francisco State University researchers finds that alarm-calling bird species promote the ability of other species to use risky parts of the forest, bringing together species that normally flock on their own. By creating a safe zone from predators, these birds maintain biodiversity in the rainforest.
Researchers compared bird and turtle genomes to determine dinosaur chromosome structure, revealing similarities with modern birds. The study's findings suggest that dinosaurs had a similar karyotype pattern as modern birds, contributing to their diversity.
Researchers from the University of Chicago and University of Nebraska discovered that Australian fairy-wrens can recognize individual birds from other species and form stable, positive relationships. This cooperation allows them to better defend their territories and share benefits such as increased foraging success and reduced vigilance.
Researchers found that jackdaws respond to unique calls from fellow colony members and non-colony birds, but not female strangers. The size of the mob is influenced by caller characteristics and sex, highlighting individual bird discrimination.
Researchers found that malaria-carrying parasites, particularly Plasmodium, are more widespread due to their ability to infect multiple bird species. The study's findings suggest that geography and host evolutionary relationships play significant roles in shaping parasite diversity and distribution patterns.
Researchers tracked Egyptian vultures along the Red Sea Flyway, revealing key migratory bird corridors and bottlenecks. The study highlights a major research gap in conservation efforts for this endangered species.
A study published in Ecosphere found that native birds can successfully nest in non-native plants in altered ecosystems, challenging traditional views on habitat restoration. The research suggests that controlling non-native plants may not yield benefits for all nesting bird species.
Scientists found that warmer springs cause a mismatch between birds' hatching and caterpillar abundance, making it harder for chicks to feed. This affects three bird species: blue tits, great tits, and pied flycatchers, with the biggest mismatch seen among pied flycatchers.
Researchers have found a strain of trichomonosis in myna bird populations in Pakistan, infecting around 20% of the birds. The disease is carried by a parasite primarily found in pigeons and larger birds of prey, posing a risk to other species due to the invasive nature of myna birds.
Research by the University of Exeter and the British Trust for Ornithology found that people in crowded urban areas see fewer songbirds but more nuisance birds. In contrast, green and leafy suburbs have up to three and a half times more songbirds and woodpeckers, associated with positive human wellbeing.
Researchers at Lund University found that migratory birds have a less variable immune system than sedentary birds, possibly due to the reduced diversity of pathogens in their breeding grounds. This adaptation could provide a survival advantage, as dealing with multiple pathogens is often difficult for birds when they first encounter them.
Researchers at Lund University discovered that Cry4 protein in birds' eyes is a key magnetoreceptor, providing constant levels throughout the day. This finding supports the idea that other animals have magnetic receptors and may aid in developing new navigation systems.
Research predicts that climate change will disrupt the fueling-up stage of migratory birds in late summer, threatening their survival. The study used bird observations from eBird to identify locations and times when populations may be at risk under future climate change.
A study found that restoring Putah Creek in California increased the bird population by twice as much, with more common riparian birds visiting in increasing numbers. The restoration also improved the ecosystem's function and had benefits beyond the water's edge.
A study by McGill University researchers reveals that birds with high problem-solving skills have higher levels of a neurotransmitter receptor associated with human intelligence. The findings provide insight into the evolutionary mechanisms affecting cognitive traits in animals.
A University of Guelph study found that human encroachment is the leading cause of death among Ontario's at-risk birds of prey, with trauma and starvation being the top causes. The study analyzed over 1,500 bird deaths from 1991 to 2014 and highlighted the need for public awareness and habitat preservation to protect raptor populations.
A new study finds that large forest birds such as raptors and hornbills are being killed for bushmeat, leading to a decline in their populations. The research also reveals a surprising link between education levels and hunting habits, suggesting that higher education levels may be contributing to the problem.
Researchers have discovered that black jacobin hummingbirds produce vocalizations with an unusually high-frequency pitch, including components in the ultrasonic range. The findings suggest that these birds may rely on their unusual calls as a private channel of communication, given their diverse social environment.
Researchers found that attracting birds and other vertebrates to agricultural areas reduces pest damage and increases crop yields. Studies show that these natural pest control methods can be effective in reducing pesticide use and improving the environment.
A study in house finches reveals that immune systems can inadvertently help bacteria become stronger over time, leading to a catch-22 situation. Researchers found that birds with stronger immunity to more virulent strains were more likely to exclude low-virulence strains from future infections.
A new model based on ground-running birds can predict the locomotion of bipedal dinosaurs by analyzing their speed and body size. The BIRDS Model uses just two inputs to estimate stride length and force exerted per step, providing insights into extinct theropod dinosaur movement.
A new study published in PNAS found that extreme-altitude birds on the Himalayan Plateau and Altiplano plateau evolved similar traits to capture oxygen, despite different molecular blueprints. The study identified multiple ways for closely related species to produce the same functional outcome.
Despite centuries of assumption, a systematic literature review reveals no evidence that water birds transfer fish eggs into isolated bodies of water. The majority of experts surveyed found the theory plausible, but empirical evidence is lacking.
Researchers have developed two initiatives to minimize bird-human interactions, using acoustic deterrence technology. Sonic Nets uses sound to make gathering birds uncomfortable, while Acoustic Lighthouse alerts flying birds to avoid collisions with wind turbines and other structures.
A University of Adelaide study found that monitoring wildlife using drones is more accurate than traditional counting approaches. The #EpicDuckChallenge used fake bird colonies to test the technology, with citizen scientists tallying the number of birds in drone photos, resulting in a higher accuracy rate.
Migratory birds use a light-dependent protein called cryptochrome 4 to navigate, which is specifically expressed in the outer segment of double-cone photoreceptor cells. This discovery provides new insights into magnetoreception and could help protect wildlife from human disturbances.