The study found that banded dotterels arrive in Australia about four days later each year, on average, between 2014 and 2025, due to a southward shift in winds circling Antarctica. This delay in arrival has led to a reduction in their estimated stay on Australian non-breeding grounds by around a quarter over the past decade.
A new study by Max Planck Institute researchers found that shorebirds breeding in Arctic tundra return to breeding sites far less often than those in other habitats. The study, which analyzed decades of field data, suggests that geography plays a key role in a shorebird's decision to return or settle elsewhere.
Female Dotterels travel long distances to secure multiple mates, contradicting the traditional view of birds' migrations. They often visit three to five sites, with the most wide-ranging bird covering 1,343 km, before returning to a final site for an extended stay.
A new study reveals that a change in diet may have paved the way for the evolution of spectacular displays in manakins. The research found that genetic fingerprints of strong sexual selection and changes in taste and digestion linked to a fruit-based diet drove the emergence of elaborate mating behaviors.
Cichlids use a specific sequence of behaviors to build nests, involving digging, grasping, and sand-flicking. Practice and repeated exposure solidify these skills, even after long periods without access to shells.
Researchers have found that zebra finches' brains respond more strongly to familiar calls, with inhibitory interneurons firing more intensely and for longer when the caller is known. This neural activity influences the bird's reply, suggesting that social context plays a crucial role in vocal communication. The study sheds light on why...
A Europe-wide citizen science study reveals that common buzzards are becoming more uniform in color, with lighter birds found in north and central Europe and darker birds in Brittany and Iberia. The study's findings suggest that the loss of color diversity may compromise the species' ability to adapt to future environmental changes.
Researchers found that birds adapting to sugar-rich diets evolved both shared and unique genetic changes, affecting genes controlling blood pressure, heart rhythm, and insulin signaling. These findings hold promise for understanding metabolic diseases like diabetes and may lead to new therapeutic targets.
Research found that widespread contaminants like mercury and certain PFAS compounds affect the function of mitochondria in wild seabirds, potentially undermining fitness. The study measured pollutant levels and mitochondrial function in Scopoli's shearwaters and connected diet to exposure through stable isotopes.