When parent little auks were stressed, they reduced feeding and spent more time searching for food, impacting their offspring's nutrition. Despite this, the birds still displayed a care response to their chicks' begging behaviour.
Research by academics at the University of Exeter found that people living in neighborhoods with more birds, shrubs, and trees are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, and stress. The study also found benefits for mental health when observing birds in the afternoon.
A study found that male birds' mobbing behavior, such as dive bombing and aerial swoops, serves not only as protection against predators but also as a way to showcase their physical qualities to attract females. When females from the same species are present, males increase their participation in these displays.
A study on songbird migrants reveals that temperature plays a crucial role in their migratory decisions, as milder autumns trigger restlessness and delay migration. The results have significant implications for the future of bird migration, highlighting the potential impact of changing environmental conditions.
A comprehensive study published in Nature Climate Change found that nearly 700 bird and mammal species have already been impacted by climate change. The research suggests that around half of threatened mammals and 23% of threatened birds are likely to be negatively affected by future climatic changes.
Small species of birds are particularly susceptible to lethal dehydration in extreme heat, with the risk increasing four-fold by the end of this century. Conservation strategies are needed to conserve diverse plant and animal communities that supply shelter and water to desert birds amid future climate warming.
A study led by Leonida Fusani demonstrates that the hormone ghrelin regulates migratory behavior in birds, controlling when to rest and replenish energy stores. The research team also found that an inactive form of ghrelin is a more influential factor than previously thought.
A new study found that birds of prey interact more with scented packages than unscented ones, suggesting they associate the scent of peppermint oil with food. This method can be used to encourage species-specific feeding behaviors in zoos.
Researchers tracked three migratory bird species and found they adjust their routes to match future changes in food availability. By 2080, climate change may make it challenging for birds to find sufficient resources, posing a threat to their survival.
Research finds that urbanization is hindering the ability of certain songbird species to reproduce successfully, even after relocating. The study, published in PLOS ONE, found that forced dispersal due to suburban development can cause birds to abandon their territories and struggle to find new mates.
A new study by the American Museum of Natural History estimates that there are approximately 18,000 bird species worldwide, nearly twice as many as previously thought. The researchers used a combination of morphology and genetic studies to highlight birds with separate evolutionary histories.
Researchers found hummingbirds' ability to accelerate and turn is hindered by low air density at high altitudes, affecting their performance. The study suggests climate change may impact species seeking cooler regions, including higher elevations.
A year-long study found that birds in leafy suburban neighborhoods fly between gardens with more vegetation than those with paved gardens or roads, visiting bird feeders more often. This knowledge can help urban planners create cities more attractive to nature and humans.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) viruses have been reported in Europe via wild bird migration, primarily affecting poultry and wild birds. The risk of transmission to the general public is considered very low, but people handling infected birds may be at risk.
Researchers have discovered evidence of Deepwater Horizon oil in land-based birds, highlighting a link between the ocean spill and a terrestrial ecosystem. The study used carbon dating methods to analyze feathers and gut contents of sea sparrows from affected areas.
Researchers discovered that marine plastic debris emits a sulfurous compound, dimethyl sulfide, which attracts seabirds with keen sense of smell. This olfactory cue tricks birds into eating plastic, making them more likely to consume it than other species.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have discovered three new bird species in African forests, challenging the idea of low evolutionary diversification. The study's findings highlight the importance of continued exploration and sampling to fully document avian biodiversity.
Researchers found that birds in tropical climates are not more colorful than those in temperate climates. Instead, birds in harsh desert environments have evolved fancier colors to attract mates quickly. Birds in humid forest environments are darker in color overall.
A team of scientists used chemical composition of fossil eggs to determine if they were laid by different mothers, finding that oviraptorid dinosaurs exhibited communal nesting behavior. The study sheds light on the evolutionary history of this unique behavior.
Researchers attached data loggers to common swifts to track their flight activity, confirming they spend over 99% of their non-breeding period in the air. The birds likely save energy during the day by soaring on upward currents and ascend at dawn and dusk.
Researchers at Lund University found that common swifts spend 10 months in the air, migrating and hibernating without landing. The birds' physiology is still not fully understood, but the discovery provides new insights into animal behavior.
Researchers found that experience with passing vehicles does not help birds avoid collisions, with inexperienced birds having longer flight initiation distances. Habituation to high-speed vehicles contributes to bird collisions worldwide.
A study of 196 bird species reveals that body size affects their migration patterns, with smaller birds traveling longer distances than larger ones. Soaring birds, such as raptors and albatrosses, have larger migration ranges independent of body size due to low energy consumption.
Researchers found that azure-winged magpies provided food to their group members spontaneously and without being asked, showing a high level of prosocial behavior. This suggests that cooperative breeding may have promoted the emergence of prosocial tendencies in these birds.
A global study suggests that tracking migrating birds' routes could provide early warning of potential bird flu outbreaks. Researchers found that long-distance flights of infected birds from Asia to Europe and North America via their breeding grounds in the Arctic are a key factor in spreading deadly strains of avian flu.
Researchers found that golden eagles killed at a wind farm in California came from up to hundreds of miles away, posing a threat to global populations. The study's findings suggest that environmental assessments should consider bird populations across entire regions, not just local areas.
The discovery of a 66-million-year-old bird fossil in Antarctica reveals the oldest known syrinx, a vocal organ that produces bird calls. The finding indicates that this organ may have originated late in the evolution of birds, suggesting that other dinosaurs were unable to produce similar sounds.
A study found that Blue tits' migratory behavior is driven by their need for energy and environmental information. Lean and late-migrating individuals tend to explore new environments quicker than larger birds or those with more fat reserves, suggesting that foraging may be primarily driven by energy requirements.
Researchers from Virginia Tech discovered that birds' slender necks and pointed beaks reduce drag force during dives, allowing them to plunge safely. The team also found that contracting neck muscles before impact helps prevent buckling.
Researchers found that older Whooping cranes are leading the way in changing migration patterns due to climate and land use change. The birds' long-term memory and ability to learn from experience enable them to innovate new behaviors, such as shortstopping, which involves shifting wintering grounds closer to breeding grounds.
A University of Oklahoma study demonstrates that birds migrate in time with warming temperatures in spring and seasonal changes in the land's surface. The researchers found temperature to be a useful cue for migrants, but disputed the use of vegetation greenness as a cue for migration timing.
Researchers found that Manx shearwaters suffered decreased breeding success when they had to spend more time rearing chicks, leading to delayed migration and reduced resting time. This study provides insights into the consequences of carry-over effects on migratory birds' annual cycles.
Research on the southern pied babbler reveals that dominant males preferentially treat their biological sons, while alienating their stepsons, which may have evolved as a survival strategy. This behavior has significant impacts on group dynamics and cooperative breeding habits.
Barbados bullfinches and Carib grackles can successfully pull strings to access food, but this skill is unrelated to performance on other cognitive tasks. The study also found that some birds improve their string-pulling ability with practice.
Researchers at Lund University found that larger flocks of birds travel significantly faster than smaller ones, with wind direction and turbulence playing a crucial role. This discovery provides new understanding of the complex factors influencing bird flight speeds.
In a study, magpies won the race for Cheetos, completing tasks faster than crows. However, crows stole food more frequently, suggesting that the smaller birds may not compensate with increased foraging efforts. The findings highlight the complex relationship between competition and cooperation in urban ecosystems.
Researchers found that birds can engage in slow wave sleep and rapid eye movement sleep while flying, with SWS occurring in one hemisphere or both hemispheres. The study revealed unique sleep patterns in flight, including the ability of birds to watch their surroundings while asleep.
A study led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found that wild ducks and other aquatic birds do not carry highly pathogenic flu viruses, which caused widespread poultry outbreaks in North America. The research suggests that existing immunity in wild birds may explain why these viruses do not persist in their populations.
A new study predicts that climate change will restrict migratory birds to small islands in the Arctic Ocean as they retreat north, leading to declines in hard-hit regions and changes in migration pathways.
A Queen's University researcher has challenged traditional explanations for the origin of birds' flight. His findings suggest that wings may have initially served signaling or sexual selection purposes rather than flying.
Researchers found city birds exhibit higher levels of territorial aggression than rural counterparts, possibly due to limited space but better resources to defend. The study, published in Biology Letters, measured bird responses to simulated intrusions at urban and rural sites.
Researchers discovered that closed-mouth vocalization evolved at least 16 times in archosaurs, including birds and crocodiles. This behavior is often used for mating displays or territorial defense, producing sounds that are typically quieter and lower in pitch than those made through an open beak.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has partnered with the Land Trust Alliance to launch the Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative, aiming to improve bird conservation on private lands. The initiative provides technical support, workshops, and a Resources Directory to help land trusts enhance bird habitats.
Frigate birds exploit upward drafts and circular movements of cumulus clouds to stay aloft for months without flapping their wings. Juveniles embark on longer journeys than adults, suggesting a genetically encoded behavior.
Researchers found that birds flee from predators at longer distances when their eggs are well-camouflaged, and adjust their behavior to shade their eggs during the day. This suggests that camouflage can mitigate both predation risk and thermal risks in animals.
Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt discovered that birds use a light-independent radical pair to detect the Earth's magnetic field lines. This finding indicates a special evolutionary adaptation in birds, as cryptochrome is used exclusively for light perception in other organisms.
Scientists have identified a cytochrome P450 enzyme that allows some bird species to convert yellow pigments into red colors, enhancing color vision and possibly signaling individual quality. The discovery fills a gap in understanding the genetics of red coloration in birds, with implications for future research on evolution and ecology.
Researchers found a gene called CYP2J19 that converts yellow carotenoids into red ones in the skin and feathers of red birds. The study suggests that for a bird to grow red feathers, it needs not just the redness gene but also a special form of the gene involved in feather growth.
Researchers found that host birds only tolerate brood parasite eggs when threatened with retaliation by the parasitic birds. This 'mafia hypothesis' explains why some hosts accept parasitic eggs despite the risk of losing their own young.
Climate change causes red knot birds to shrink and develop shorter beaks, limiting access to high-quality food sources. This can lead to reduced survival rates among birds born in warm Arctic years, according to a 33-year study.
A new study suggests that a sonic net around airfields can prevent collisions between birds and aircraft, reducing the number of birds in the area by 80%. The noise levels emitted are equivalent to those of a conversation in a busy restaurant, deterring bird species at high risk of strike such as starlings.
A newly discovered enantiornithine bird from the Early Cretaceous period in China provides the oldest unambiguous record of an avian gastric pellet. The fossilized remains include a fish-rich pellet, suggesting that some Early Cretaceous birds had evolved modern avian digestive features.
Research on Black Sparrowhawks reveals that dark birds excel in low-light conditions due to better camouflage, while light birds thrive in brighter environments. This study supports the idea that color polymorphism arises from adaptations to distinct light conditions.
Researchers found that raptors' skulls change shape predictably with species size, linking beak and skull shapes. This constraint may limit the evolutionary flexibility of birds of prey.
A new study reveals that reptiles, like mammals and birds, experience REM and slow-wave sleep patterns. This discovery suggests a common ancestor for these sleep states, evolving over 300 million years ago in amniotes.
Researchers found that bird-like dinosaurs with toothless beaks were able to survive on seeds after the meteor impact, while those with teeth went extinct abruptly. The study suggests that dietary adaptations played a crucial role in the survival of modern birds.
Researchers found that young birds can produce mature flight strokes despite underdeveloped muscles and wings. Leg-wing cooperation enables juvenile birds to flap like adults, improving traction as they climb.
Researchers found that young birds exhibit mature flight stroke early in development by leveraging leg and wing power, challenging existing ideas about flight origin. This discovery could provide insights into the evolution of flight in ancient theropod dinosaurs.
Scientists have discovered a predictable trend in the evolution of bird shape among island birds, with flying birds adapting smaller flight muscles and longer legs. This adaptation is driven by relief from predators, rather than genetic divergence.
Researchers discovered a superfast wing muscle in tropical birds, which can move at speeds of over 60 Hz, faster than any animal with a backbone. This adaptation allows birds to perform extravagant courtship displays without sacrificing flying ability.