Articles tagged with Birds
Research finds hybrid birds take longer, more difficult routes than their parent species, with strong genetic control of migratory behavior. The study suggests that mixed genetic background helps maintain the diversity of songbirds.
Researchers used geolocators to track songbirds' migration patterns, finding that hybrid species exhibited increased variability in their routes. This study supports the hypothesis that differences in migratory behavior can act as postmating reproductive isolating barriers.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London developed an automatic analysis technique to identify characteristics of bird sounds from recordings. The system combines feature-learning and classification algorithms to distinguish between bird species in a large dataset, with promising results in public contests.
A new model analyzing bird responses to climate change suggests that precipitation, not temperature, is the key factor influencing population trends. The study found that changes in precipitation can affect plant growth, soil moisture, and insect abundance, leading to declines in certain species.
A recent study reclassifies Scansoriopteryx as a non-dinosaurian bird, with characteristics like elongated forelimbs and wing feathers. The findings validate predictions from the early 1900s that small, tree-dwelling archosaurs are the ancestors of birds.
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.
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.
Scientists have discovered a new pathogen, Trichomonas stableri, linked to recent mass die-offs of Pacific Coast band-tailed pigeons. The parasite, along with ancient species Trichomonas gallinae, causes severe lesions that can block the esophagus or trachea, leading to suffocation.
A new study explains how Avibase, an online global database of birds, successfully addresses issues related to standardized scientific names and their meanings. The database pairs scientific names with citation definitions using taxonomic concepts.
A new study by ecologists at Penn State found that grassland bird populations declined due to the loss of habitat, rather than insecticide use. The researchers analyzed population data from the US Geological Survey and found a strong positive association between CRP lands and grassland bird trends.
Researchers dispel the idea of evolutionary trade-offs between plumage and song in a large study of tanagers, a family of songbirds from Central and South America. The study found that some species can exhibit both flashy colors and complex songs without sacrificing one for the other.
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.
Researchers from India, US, Germany, and Sweden study songbirds in the Himalayas, finding significant genetic differences between closely related species. The team concludes that the region's saturated habitats hindered new species evolution.
The new Birdsnap app, developed by Columbia Engineering researchers, can identify 500 common North American bird species using computer vision and machine learning techniques. It offers users various ways to organize species and even annotates images with distinctive parts for easy identification.
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 conventional oil and gas development in northern Pennsylvania is altering bird communities, with songbird species being pushed out and generalist species taking their place. The study revealed changes in avian guilds resulting from oil and gas development, suggesting a loss of community uniqueness.
New indicators of social and environmental well-being are being used to measure a nation's success beyond Gross Domestic Product (GDP). These include birth weight, hours slept, eyeglasses, city birds, washing machines, and teenage schoolgirls, highlighting the need for broader measures of societal progress.
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.
A recent study assembled a large dataset using ancient moa DNA and found convincing evidence that tinamous are closely related to extinct moas, leading to independent loss of flight. Morphological characters of ratites were mostly convergent, evolving independently as adaptations to a cursorial lifestyle.
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.
Researchers discovered that finches in the Galapagos Islands use treated cotton to kill parasitic fly maggots, protecting baby birds and potentially helping endangered species. The biologists tested this self-fumigation method on Darwin's finches, showing that it is effective against the nest fly Philornis downsi.
Researchers found a negative relationship between predation pressure and bird longevity, supporting the classical theory of ageing. The study analyzed data from nearly 1400 bird species, revealing that larger species with faster reproductive rates tend to live shorter lives.
Researchers found that filling of ecological niches slows the diversification of Himalayan songbirds. The study, which analyzed genetic relationships between 461 songbird species, discovered that eastern Himalayan species are separated from each other by six to seven million years, suggesting a slowing of evolution.
Researchers analyzed breeding bird surveys for 40 songbird species over 35 years and found they shifted either northward or to higher elevation in response to climate change. This suggests previous studies may have underestimated the effects of environmental warming by only looking at one factor.
Researchers found that effective communication involves both signalers and receivers, with groups of males called leks increasing accuracy for females. Investing in ecological structures showed a weak improvement in signaling ability, while using non-food items reduced accuracy.
A team of scientists ranked nearly 10,000 bird species by their evolutionary distinctness, identifying over 100 areas requiring additional protection to safeguard avian biodiversity. The study, published in Current Biology, reveals that Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand are leading countries in preserving irreplaceable species.
A Yale-led research team developed a new approach to species conservation that prioritizes genetic and geographic rarity. The method was applied to all 9,993 known bird species, revealing areas where maximum conservation of bird diversity can be achieved with minimal investment.
A new study finds that several iconic Adirondack birds are in trouble, with declines driven by the size of their wetland habitats, connectivity, and proximity to human infrastructure. The analysis suggests that these species face challenges in this environment, particularly due to climate change and habitat alteration.
Support for natural history study appears to be in decline in developed countries, despite its importance for human health, food security, and conservation. Experts are now calling for a revival of the practice to reclaim its role in understanding organisms and their interactions with the environment.
A new study by University of Sheffield researchers found that warm spring weather increases the survival rate of British small bird species. The research challenged a common assumption about the cause of death for these birds during winter.
A study by Cornell University researchers found that the hybrid zone between Carolina and Black-capped Chickadees is moving northward at a rate of 0.7 miles per year, mirroring warming winter temperatures. The study uses genetic analyses and crowdsourced data to track the birds' movements and identifies females as leading the charge.
A team of researchers found that 71% of surveyed birds had female song, contradicting the long-held assumption that bird song is an exclusively male trait resulting from sexual selection. The study suggests that social selection may have played a role in the evolution of bird song, with both males and females competing for resources.
Researchers discovered 3D plumes of brain activity propagating through the avian brain, differing from mammalian slow-wave-sleep patterns. This finding suggests alternative computational properties and challenges the layered organization assumption.
A study published in PLOS ONE has clarified the number of moa species that existed, with researchers using a DNA barcoding technique to determine species status for the extinct Euryapteryx moa genus. The findings suggest that two species likely existed and possibly some subspecies, revealing complex species status.
Researchers found that male chipping sparrows form 'dear enemy' alliances with weaker neighbors to prevent stronger rivals from moving in. In a surprise discovery, these coalitions were shown to be rare and often based on specific vocal relationships.
Scientists discovered that key characteristics of flight, such as body size and forelimb length, evolved simultaneously in a group of dinosaurs. These findings suggest that birds arose through multiple evolutionary steps, with powered flight emerging later.
Great tits can recall the location of cached food hideaways after one or 24 hours, according to a Swedish study published in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. This observational spatial learning ability may be more crucial for non-hoarders like great tits, as it helps them survive during harsh weather conditions.
Researchers found numerous bird nests and a greater diversity of species in no-till soybean fields compared to tilled fields. The study highlights the importance of agricultural practices in supporting bird abundance and diversity.
A study found that yellow-breasted chat males visit multiple territories at night to search for partners during their fertile period, increasing reproductive success. The researchers used radio transmitters and triangulation software to track the birds' movements, revealing a previously unknown behavior in diurnal species.
In Switzerland, plants have shifted uphill by 8 meters, butterflies by 38 meters, and birds by 42 meters between 2003 and 2010. Climate warming is causing species to adapt at a surprising pace.
A recent study used DNA barcoding to identify Dutch bird species with high resolution, flagging some for further investigation. The approach was particularly useful in museums, such as the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, where DNA tissue vouchers are already prepared.
A new study found that bird species living together are more similar than different, challenging a widely-held theory on species evolution. The research suggests that competition may not be the driving force behind species differences, instead promoting the evolution of similar traits.
Researchers found that consistent individual differences exist in sparrow behavior, with some birds being more aggressive and others using signals to communicate their intentions. The study identified a new dimension of animal personality, called communicativeness, which plays a significant role in signaling during aggressive situations.
A new study reveals that biodiversity is higher in the tropics due to increased genetic diversity among subspecies, which are more likely to arise in harsher environments typical of higher latitudes. This counterintuitive finding suggests that species turnover and extinction rates may be balanced near the equator.
A genetic defect in the FoxP2 gene, commonly associated with human speech problems, disrupts the ability of songbirds to sing effective courtship tunes. Researchers found that the defect impairs a network of nerve cells, leading to stuttering and stammering in affected individuals.
Researchers found that house sparrows' immune cells become more attuned to finding dangerous parasites at the edge of their range in Kenya. This adaptation may help the birds thrive in new areas with novel pathogens. The study aims to understand what gives invasive species an edge, informing efforts to manage and eradicate them.
Researchers found that pigeons can use changes in volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere to determine their direction and find their way home. By analyzing these chemical changes, pigeons can associate specific smells with particular wind directions, allowing them to navigate back to their lofts.
Closure of live poultry markets (LPMs) in four Chinese cities reduced daily human H7N9 infections by over 97%, according to new research. The study confirms LPM closure as a highly effective intervention to prevent human disease and protect public health.
Fossilized footprints found at Dinosaur Cove in Victoria, Australia, reveal the oldest known bird tracks in the country, dating back to the Early Cretaceous period. The analysis, led by paleontologist Anthony Martin, sheds light on the evolution of flight and the connection between birds and non-avian dinosaurs.
Research by Guy Beauchamp reveals semipalmated sandpipers feed differently depending on group position, with peripheral birds acting as sentinels. The study sheds light on the mechanisms behind group living and its benefits for survival.
A study by Max Planck Institute researchers found that treating juvenile zebra finches with nerve growth factor 'BDNF' enhances their ability to copy songs from their fathers. The treated birds showed a higher similarity with the song of their fathers compared to normally reared juveniles.
Researchers used playbacks to examine the effects on wrens and antpittas, finding that repeated playbacks can stress birds and lead to wasted energy. Habituation occurred after daily playback for two-and-a-half weeks, suggesting minimal impact on wren behavior.
A new study by UC Davis reveals a strong correlation between human life expectancy and the loss of endangered species, with countries experiencing high GDP growth showing higher percentages of invasive birds and mammals. The research highlights the need for better scientific understanding of human-environment interactions.
Researchers found that environmental factors played a significant role in shaping the songs and brain structures of zebra finches, with low heritability values for most characteristics except for syllable count and frequency. The study suggests that flexibility in response to environmental conditions helps maintain genetic variation.
Researchers found that as European songbirds colonized islands, their songs became less structured. The study suggests a genetic component to the loss of syntax, and may be due to the effects of small population sizes on cultural transmission.
Researchers found that Audubon's warblers share mitochondrial DNA with myrtle warblers, a different species that migrates annually. The study suggests that the songbird may have co-opted the myrtle's mitochondria to better power its travels.
Researchers have created a new map of bird brains based on a decade-long exploration of gene expression across eight species. The findings suggest that bird brains have commonalities with human brains, including columnar organization and forebrain regions similar to mammals.
Stanford biologists found that leaving patches of rainforest in coffee plantations increases bird biodiversity and reduces borer beetle infestation rates. The birds' activity can increase yield by $75 to $310 per hectare, providing a sustainable win-win opportunity for pest management.