Articles tagged with Birds
Researchers found that birds' wings have grown longer and bodies are increasing in mass over the last 27 to 40 years in central California. Climate change is believed to be behind the trend, which challenges the usual thinking about climate change and body size.
A 1956 film shot by a dentist from Pennsylvania captures the last confirmed sighting of an imperial woodpecker in the wild. The footage shows a female bird foraging and then taking flight, offering insights into the species' behavior before its extinction.
Researchers found a strong relationship between testosterone levels and the size/intensity of the black throat patch in female barred buttonquails. High testosterone levels correlate with more intense plumage coloration and better body condition, suggesting a reversed hormone dependency in sex role behaviors.
Researchers have determined the evolutionary family tree for the Hawaiian honeycreeper bird family, revealing they evolved from Eurasian rosefinches. The study used genetic data from 28 bird species to identify the ancestors of the 19 remaining species, which are facing significant extinction threats.
Research reveals that West Nile virus transmission is highest in urbanized and agricultural areas, with the American robin playing a key role as a 'super-spreader'. Mosquito species that feed on robins are more important in transmission than other birds.
Research finds West Nile virus transmission is highest in urbanized and agricultural habitats, with robins and specific mosquito species playing a crucial role. The virus has had an impact on human health, particularly due to its ability to target abundant bird species.
Researchers found that individual birds varied their technique and dropped blades of grass less often as they gained experience. The study suggests that birds have the mental capacity to learn and develop skills through repetition.
A study by Cornell University researchers found that songbirds' ability to learn and remember songs is linked to the size and proportion of their brain regions. The research suggests that species with larger higher brain areas relative to lower areas can learn dozens or hundreds of different notes.
Researchers identify cause of hummingbird courtship sounds: fluttering tail feathers generate louder sound when neighboring feathers flutter at the same frequency. The unique sound is thought to be a form of aerodynamic signaling during courtship.
A team of Indiana University researchers has discovered that promiscuous female birds have higher reproductive success due to a genetic 'trade-up', resulting in more offspring. By studying dark-eyed juncos, the study found that females who mate outside their social pair have twice as many grandchildren than those who remain truly monog...
Researchers found that male rock ptarmigans can run up to 50% faster than females due to superior physiology, enabling them to defend larger territories and successfully breed. This study highlights the importance of considering physiological factors in understanding animal behavior and breeding success.
A Baylor University study reveals that some desert bird species are more resilient to wildfires and climate change due to changes in their habitat. The research found that three bird species will benefit from the drying of grasslands, reducing the likelihood of intense wildfires, and allowing for easier prey foraging.
Researchers at Michigan State University discovered that male songbirds use scent to attract both female and male mates through the 'Axe effect'. Female birds preferred the odor of smaller males, while larger males overcompensate with greater amounts of an attractive scent.
Researchers found burrowing parrots originated in Chile and successfully crossed the Andes on a single occasion over 120,000 years ago. This species expansion is significant for conservation actions, as it shows how animal species overcome natural barriers to find suitable habitats.
Researchers found a rare case of non-parental infanticide in the black-billed magpie, where an adult bird attacked and killed nestlings. The suspected perpetrator was a female parent from a neighboring nest, due to aggressive interactions and territorial expansion.
Researchers found that Hawai'i hosts three limpet species, 'opihi makai', 'alinalina' and 'ko'ele, which speciated within the archipelago along an ecological gradient. These findings reset the bar for marine speciation in Hawai'i.
Researchers discovered that microRNA levels increase or decrease in the zebra finch brain after hearing a new song. This finding suggests that microRNAs play a regulatory role in fine-tuning the brain's response to social information.
Researchers analyzed over 345,000 bird capture records to assess the risk of injury or mortality from mist netting. Frequently captured birds were found to be less at risk than those captured infrequently due to established adulthood and territory ownership.
Researchers tracked bird populations over 25 years in isolated forest fragments and found that many species returned after being thought extinct. The study suggests that local extinction is accompanied by continual recolonization, dependent on habitat size.
Ovenbirds and veeries use chipmunk calls to identify safe nesting spots, avoiding areas with high predator activity. By eavesdropping on chipmunk vocalisations, birds can select optimal locations for their nests, reducing the risk of predation.
A new study reveals that bird plumage coloration falls short of filling the colour space, leaving vast regions unoccupied. Despite having an additional color cone sensitive to ultraviolet light, birds can only produce a subset of colors theoretically visible to other birds.
Researchers at Yale and Cambridge found that birds' plumage colors only represent a fraction of the colors they're capable of seeing, thanks to additional UV-sensitive cones. The study suggests that structural colors produce most of the color diversity in bird feathers, with limitations preventing them from creating certain colors.
A UBC study found that over 75% of tree holes used by birds and mammals worldwide are created by damage and decay, emphasizing the importance of preserving older, larger trees. This contrasts with North American forests where woodpeckers dominate hole creation.
Researchers found that female zebra finches inherit the disposition for infidelity from their fathers, who had also engaged in promiscuity. This genetic predisposition increases the likelihood of extra-pair matings, despite costs for females.
A new study found that the sex differences in the brains of songbirds vary according to their social status. Contrary to previous assumptions, dominant males' larger brain areas controlling song behaviour do not explain their dominance. Instead, gene activity and neural connections play a more significant role
A new forest simulation model helps researchers understand the effects of timber-friendly hardwood regeneration on songbird habitats in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The study found that regeneration in harvest gaps is crucial for forest managers to have choices, with sugar maple regeneration having a significant impact on bird habitat.
Researchers tracked six bird species to estimate seed dispersal distances and found that only one species ingested seeds. The study suggests that long-distance dispersal is critical for plants to establish new populations, and humans may need to create stepping-stone vegetation or forest corridors between fragmented habitats.
A new University of Florida study reveals that cats are the dominant predators to urban mockingbird eggs and nestlings, challenging assumptions about urban areas as nesting sites. The study urges pet owners to keep felines indoors at night to reduce nest predation.
The article reports on audio recordings of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker captured by Dr. Michael Collins, which match historical descriptions. The footage shows characteristics consistent with the species, including a large crest and rared-back posture.
Researchers found that radiation exposure led to population declines in birds with orangish plumage, as the pigment pheomelanin consumes antioxidants and diminishes their ability to combat oxidative stress. In contrast, some species with different melanin-based coloration showed positive effects from radiation.
A new model of island ecology suggests that most unique island species should be common on their island, contradicting the common perception of rarity. The researchers used data from 35 islands and archipelagos to develop the model, which predicts how many individuals of each species can be expected to see in their natural habitat.
A new study published in IBIS reveals that birds see the world differently from humans, with limited spatial detail and enhanced movement detection. This understanding can inform guidelines to reduce bird collisions with obstacles.
Researchers found that night-flying moths match the migration speeds of songbirds, traveling between 30-65 km/h. Moths use favorable tailwinds to aid their journeys, while birds take advantage of winds from various directions.
In a groundbreaking study, teenage male songbirds were found to significantly improve their singing in the presence of females, demonstrating the impact of social cues on learning. This finding has important implications for understanding human language acquisition and motor skill development.
The discovery of Mentocrex beankaensis, a new rail species in western Madagascar's dry forests, emphasizes the critical need for conservation. The Beanka Forest, a largely intact area, has been the site of numerous discoveries of plant and animal species, with 97% of its original forest cover having disappeared since human arrival.
A stockpiled vaccine against the 2004 bird flu strain can be combined with a current vaccine to protect against a potential pandemic, researchers say. Giving the old vaccine first primes the body for a second dose of the new vaccine, boosting the immune response.
A new conservation index helps policy-makers deal with the effects of climate change on birds in Africa, suggesting that international cooperation is essential to protect species. The study predicts that one-third of protected areas will undergo significant changes due to climate change.
Scientists found that songbirds learn to change their pitch by computing the average success of hundreds of performances, a strategy that could guide damaged nervous systems to recovery using simple instructive signals. This phenomenon explains how people learn subtle details like accents and facial cues.
Researchers found that weaver bird chicks change the length and pitch of their begging calls as they get hungrier, making it harder for parents to distinguish them from others. This unique call pattern enables parents to accurately gauge their chick's hunger levels.
Male splendid fairy-wrens sing a special song after hearing a predator call, which attracts female attention and potentially leads to mating. The study found that females become more attentive to the male's song when preceded by a butcherbird call.
A research team used 100-year-old specimens from California Academy of Sciences to estimate when avian pox hit Galapagos. The study found that humans likely played a role in spreading the disease, highlighting the need for policies to prevent further spread.
Researchers have successfully developed genetically modified chickens that do not transmit avian influenza virus to other chickens, potentially stopping bird flu outbreaks within poultry flocks. This genetic modification has the potential to reduce the risk of bird flu epidemics leading to new flu virus epidemics in humans.
The growth of winter tourism in European mountain ranges is threatening the population of indigenous bird species, including the Capercaillie. A recent study found that Capercaillie droppings showed a marked increase in stress hormone levels closer to locations with winter recreation activity.
A study by Columbia University researchers found dramatic spatial and environmental variation in social behavior among birds globally. Environmental factors like temperature and rainfall influenced the incidence and distribution of family-living species.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham found that consuming fruit and vegetables rich in carotenoids can produce a healthier golden glow. Eating more portions per day can result in a more attractive skin color, as people tend to prefer this appearance over suntans.
A new study predicts that the Mariana crow will go extinct in 75 years due to a low first-year survival rate of 40%. The species is critically endangered and faces threats from invasive species like feral cats and brown tree snakes.
Researchers tracked the movement of European bee-eaters using tiny radio transmitters and found they both soar and flap their wings, saving energy. The birds use as little energy when soaring as when resting, contrary to previous studies with larger species.
The new book, Illinois Birds: A Century of Change, explores the evolution of bird populations in Illinois over the past 100 years. Key findings include declining grassland birds like pheasants and meadowlarks, as well as increasing wood ducks and house finches.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a simple physical model that reproduces the characteristics of real bird song, using a stretched rubber tube to mimic the zebra finch's sounds. The device, which relies on minimal neural control, produces harmonics and patterns similar to those found in actual bird songs.
Researchers studied zebra finch brain activity while singing to understand the neural basis of syntax and timing in songbird communication. The study found that specific neurons fire at precise moments to produce a musical-like sequence, similar to human speech.
A new assessment reveals that 20% of the world's vertebrates are currently threatened with extinction, with 52 species moving closer to extinction each year. The study highlights the alarming rate of decline among vertebrate species globally.
A new study shows flamingos deliberately apply pigments from their uropygial gland to their feathers for cosmetic and mating purposes. The birds modify the color of their plumage by rubbing their head on their neck, breast, and back feathers, which is more frequent during courtship displays.
Researchers used DNA analysis to identify the Passenger Pigeon's closest living relatives, revealing that it was most closely related to other North and South American pigeons, not the Mourning Dove. The study also sheds light on the bird's extinction, which was caused by human hunting and habitat destruction.
A study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers found that expanding bioenergy crops in the Upper Midwest could decrease bird species by 7-65% due to monoculture farming. In contrast, perennial cultures of prairie plants and grasses could increase biodiversity by 25-100%.
Researchers discovered that barred patterns on birds' feathers play a crucial role in sexual signaling, particularly on the front of males during face-to-face interactions. The study, published in Journal of Evolutionary Biology, provides insight into bird communication and evolution.
Research shows that artificial night lighting impacts dawn song in forest-breeding songbirds, causing them to sing earlier and females to lay eggs a day and half earlier. This can lead to lower-quality offspring, as females may mate with lesser males.
A new study by Ohio State University researchers found that the relationship between a male cardinal's body condition and its bright red feather coloration is weaker in urban areas than in rural areas. This disruption may affect how birds choose mates and assess quality.
Man-made features restrict birds to certain areas, leading to isolation and inbreeding. The study also explores natal dispersal, the time interval between when a bird moves from its hatching location to an area where it will breed.
Researchers studied the predatory style of Andalgalornis, a mid-sized terror bird that used its uniquely rigid skull and hooked beak to jab like a boxer. The team's simulations showed that the bird's attack-and-retreat strategy was effective in taking down prey, with well-targeted jabs delivering high stress levels.
A new study has revealed that ancient 'terror birds' like Andalgalornis used their powerful beaks and rigid skulls to attack prey with well-targeted jabs. Despite its strong vertical skull, the bird's skull was too weak from side to side, making it vulnerable to catastrophic fracture.