Research on birds and their behavior. Covers birdwatching and wellbeing, birds as pest control, birdsong, and migration.
Research in Botswana finds high levels of lead in African vultures, linked to hunting activity, with conservation efforts urging a national ban on lead bullets and awareness among policymakers.
A nearly complete skeleton of a 250-65 million year old chick fossil provides insight into the bone development and evolutionary diversification of birds. The study suggests that early bird developmental strategies may have been more diverse than previously thought, with some species relying heavily on parental care.
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.
Researchers found that golden-winged warblers from declining populations spend winters in northern South America, while stable populations spend winters in Central America. This strong link between breeding and non-breeding areas suggests that tropical habitats may be crucial for the species' survival.
Biologist Jeff Podos will teach at two Brazilian institutions and study birds that communicate vocally in unusual ways, using audio and video recordings to describe their habitat and behavior. He aims to understand adaptations for long-distance song transmission and how bird morphology influences song production.
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.
Researchers at the University of Chicago have discovered that birds and primates share similar brain cell types linked to cognitive abilities, such as goal-directed behaviors. This finding suggests that these species may have evolved intelligence independently, despite their distinct anatomical structures.
A recent study by Oregon State University researchers found that old-growth forests in Costa Rica's Coto Brus region have a greater variety of bird species compared to second-growth forests. This suggests that maintaining large areas of primary forest is crucial for conservation efforts.
Researchers found that varied burning regimes increase the variety of bird and mammal species in wet savannas, allowing geographically rare birds to coexist with more common species. This study suggests that fire can be an effective tool for promoting biodiversity in conservation areas.
Researchers have reconstructed a pre-human New Zealand ecosystem using coprolites from extinct giant moa and kakapo parrot, revealing insights into the birds' diet, pathogens, and behavior. The study sheds light on the critical ecosystem function of giant birds in dispersing mushrooms and fungi, now lost due to their extinction.
A study published in Scientific Reports found that dominant male Long-billed Hermits have better spatial memories and sing more consistent songs than less successful males. This advantage allows them to defend their singing perches and attract females, highlighting the importance of cognitive abilities in animal behavior.
Researchers found that individual great spotted woodpeckers can be distinguished by unique drumming patterns, including stroke speed and roll duration. Drumming also signals the quality of potential mates, as it requires well-developed back and neck muscles.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge discovered that schooling fish groups exhibit different collective behaviors, with some showing better coordination and leadership than others. The study found that individual group members differ consistently in their behavior, influencing group performance and survival.
A new study reveals that songbirds can 'see' reference to certain vocalizations, enabling them to perceive an inanimate object as a real snake. This cognitive ability allows birds to efficiently search out a predator regardless of its spatial position.
A new study reveals that birds have advanced their breeding time, laying eggs on fields still to be sown, increasing the risk of nest destruction. This mismatch is likely fatal for bird nests, highlighting the need for conservation efforts and effective schemes like Agri-environment schemes.
A study found that warm waters and algae growth are associated with an increase in botulism-related bird deaths on Lake Michigan. The researchers used satellite data to monitor environmental conditions and found a correlation between warmer waters and higher levels of algae, which can lead to the growth of toxin-producing bacteria.
A study published in PNAS found that constant noise from oil and gas operations can cause physiological stress in birds, leading to reduced egg hatching rates and stunted chick growth. The research also showed that species previously thought to be tolerant of noise were actually most affected.
Researchers found that young male songbirds can overcome their genetic predisposition to sing like their fathers with enriched early experience. The study used Bengalese finches and found that exposure to a computerized tutor or live adult males reduced the genetic contribution to complex behaviors like birdsong.
Scientists have identified the world's first hybrid bird species in the Amazon rainforest, created by the mating of two distinct species. The golden-crowned manakin boasts unique yellow crown feathers and an intermediate keratin structure, setting it apart from its parental species.
A study of zebra finches found that when young birds mimic sounds they've memorized, neural activity increases in specific brain regions. This process may hold the key to understanding how humans learn complex behaviors like speech and precise movements.
Researchers studied great tit birds and found they learned to avoid brightly colored, distasteful prey after observing another bird's reaction. This social learning process, known as 'social transmission,' helps explain how conspicuous colors evolved in insects.
A single Black-backed Oriole bird's arrival in rural Pennsylvania attracted over 1,800 birders from across the US and Canada, generating an estimated $223,851 for the local economy. The study reveals that ecotourism events can have a substantial impact on the economy through travel, food, and accommodation costs.
Researchers are using a high-tech approach to study the relationship between crow calls and their behavior, hoping to uncover the meaning behind their loud cawing. By analyzing audio recordings of the birds' vocalizations, they aim to gain insights into bird communication and behavior.
Researchers found that pigeons process space and time in ways similar to humans and other primates, using a common neural coding mechanism. This suggests that abstract concepts are not processed separately and that lower-order animal species can exhibit high-level decision-making abilities.
A study by the University of Adelaide validated the latest climate change models forecasting bird impacts, showing they accurately predict range shifts over the past 40 years. The models now provide a more effective tool for targeting conservation management resources.
Finches learn to adjust their songs depending on the situation they are in, with two distinct brain regions involved in this process: one for generalizable rules and another that can override them. This study provides insights into how humans learn complex behaviors like language and movement disorders.
Researchers found that young, managed forests cause higher stress levels and lower survival rates in willow tits due to reduced food availability and increased predation risks. About 92% of the birds sheltering in older trees survived the winter, compared to nearly 73% in younger plantations.
Researchers found that California birds are breeding five to 12 days earlier than a century ago, producing eggs and young at lower temperatures. This adaptation allows birds to avoid the negative effects of climate warming.
A study found that California bird species are shifting their breeding dates to remain in preferred temperature zones. By nesting earlier, they reduce the need for range shifts and conserve thermal niches.
Researchers have found that crested pigeons produce a critical high-pitched sound as they fly away from danger, which serves as an alarm signal. The birds' wings produce alternating high and low notes in flight, with the high notes being crucial for sounding an alarm.
Researchers found that Hawaiian birds timed their breeding and molting with the availability of specific flowers, which in turn was linked to heavier rainfall periods. This suggests that climate changes can cascade up the food chain and affect wildlife abundance.
Scientists used remote acoustic monitoring to track bird activity on Okinawa, finding more animal sounds in less developed areas. The study also confirmed that human-caused noise can be disruptive for birds.
A pilot study analyzing over 1,100 hours of birdsong reveals insights into the spread and diversity of bird species on Okinawa island. The research uses acoustic monitoring to track the influence of human activity on endemic species such as the Okinawa Rail and Ruddy Kingfisher.
A study using American dippers found that run-of-river dams can cause a spike in methylmercury levels due to reservoir formation and temperature increases. However, no significant differences were observed between regulated and unregulated streams in terms of mercury levels.
Researchers found that songbirds break down the complex task of learning a new song into manageable parts, using a strategy similar to computer algorithms. This approach allows them to adapt their songs with minimal effort and expand their repertoire.
Margaret C. Crofoot receives a prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Professorship worth five million euros to further Collective Behaviour research at the University of Konstanz. The professorship aims to create a cutting-edge international research facility, bringing together experts from various fields.
A recent study by Sjouke Kingma found that birds help other birds of the same species care for their offspring in exchange for future benefits, such as inheriting territory or creating an army of little helpers. This behavior challenges the traditional view that all creatures are selfish and maximizing their own reproductive success.
A study by University of Illinois ornithologist Mike Ward found that 85% of Canada geese wintered in the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area, with none making foraging flights to agricultural fields. The birds' ability to minimize risk by using urban areas suggests they are prioritizing survival over energy intake.
A new species of manakin bird was discovered in Peru by analyzing its distinct song. The newly identified species, Machaeropterus eckelberryi, differs from local subspecies and shares similarities with Venezuelan tepuis birds.
Researchers found genetic differences between UK and Dutch great tits linked to longer beaks in UK birds. The team suggests that natural selection is at work, with birds with genetic variants for longer beaks visiting feeders more frequently, leading to successful reproduction in the UK but not in the Netherlands.
Even modest oil exposure can cause problems for individual birds and bird populations. The study found damage to circulating red blood cells and anemia in birds, affecting reproduction and survival.
Researchers used bird specimens to track air pollution levels over 135 years, revealing a sharp drop in black carbon during the Great Depression and a rebound after World War II. The study shows that efforts to address urban smoke pollution had a lasting impact on reducing pollution.
Researchers identified a mutated gene in budgies that synthesizes the bird's yellow pigments. The findings could be applied to many parrots around the world and shed light on the evolutionary change that led to their brilliant colors.
Researchers observed that birds slowed down and increased vocal activity at the 'Tribute in Light Memorial' when illuminated by artificial light. The effects disappeared once the installation was extinguished, suggesting urban lighting may impact nocturnal bird migration patterns.
Two new species of bird-catcher trees from Puerto Rico have been discovered and named after Frances W. Horne and Ana Roque de Duprey, unrecognised women who devoted decades to educational projects in botany. The research highlights the importance of these trees thriving in well-studied areas like the Luquillo Mountains.
Researchers found that glaciers may have 'switched off' migratory behavior in bird species, transforming the tropics into long-term residences. The study challenges traditional assumptions about bird migration and has implications for understanding the evolution of this complex trait.
Research reveals significant changes in bird communities due to climate change and land use in northern Europe. Species composition is shifting with some gaining range while others lose it, leading to new community compositions.
Research by American University neuroscience Professor Colin Saldanha shows that estrogen synthesis in the brains of zebra finches can fight off neuroinflammation caused by infection. This finding reveals clues about the interplay between the body's neuroendocrine and immune systems.
A study by University of California, Riverside researchers found that two Bahamian songbird species likely became extinct due to habitat loss caused by rising sea levels and a warmer climate. The birds' habitats were pine grasslands found in cooler regions, which were lost when the islands became more tropical.
Fossil analysis reveals morphological similarities between late Pleistocene Bahamian birds and their modern counterparts, indicating extinction due to sea level rise, warming, and wetting. The findings suggest that climate change played a significant role in the disappearance of these species.
Researchers found that avian flu viruses isolated from humans have the same gene sequences as those from birds, suggesting transmission through the mineral layer. The mineralized shell changes the electric surface potential of the virus, allowing it to adsorb efficiently onto host cells.
A study in Physiological and Biochemical Zoology reveals that 32% of bird species have complex plumage patterns produced by melanins, not carotenoids. Melanins control pigmentation on a cellular level, while carotenoids require dietary intake and specialized structures.
Scientists used isotope signatures to determine where Myrtle warblers breed during the summer, finding they migrate from Vancouver's Pacific Coast to these high latitude areas. This discovery highlights adaptations for longer migrations and potentially genetic influences on migration routes.
A team of researchers led by Daniel Sheldon at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is developing new analytic methods using archived radar scans from the national weather radar network. They plan to estimate bird densities and migration patterns across the US, using machine learning and computer vision techniques.
Researchers predict that 54% of English species can expand their populations into new areas, while 27% may not find suitable climate in existing sites. The study highlights the need to protect and enhance habitats for species to colonize new areas.
Molting feathers help birds quickly eliminate mercury accumulation and reduce concentrations in tissues. This process may be key to mitigating environmental contaminant effects on bird populations.
A new study reveals birds are less likely to cross roads due to predation fears and territorial boundaries, with smaller forest-dependent species being the most affected. The findings highlight the need for measures to connect fragmented forests across roads, allowing wildlife to move freely.
A new study from Umeâ University reveals that bird genera inhabiting climatically stable areas have diversified into more species than their sister genera. Climatic stability reduced the risk of extinction and allowed diverging lineages to persist without going extinct or merging until speciation was completed.
Researchers found a clear correlation between winter temperatures and beak size, with the coldest winters associated with the smallest beaks. This study challenges previous theories on the driving forces behind beak evolution and provides new insights into the relationship between climate and morphological traits.