Articles tagged with Birds
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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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Female budgerigars are attracted to males that produce calls similar to their own, increasing in similarity during courtship. The study challenges traditional understandings of the difference between birds' songs and calls.
A study published in Behaviour found that courtship calls of Adelie penguins with steady frequency predict male condition and breeding success. Males with more consistent pitch are heavier and more successful at raising chicks.
The study found that male zebra finches use their stronger vocal muscles to control the pitch of their songs, while females rely on lung pressure. This discovery sheds light on how birds learn to sing and the complex mechanisms behind birdsong.
Scientists found that visually stimulating female Houbara bustard brooders with highly displaying male birds increased their fertility and breeding success. This led to better offspring growth rates due to increased testosterone allocation, suggesting a potential means for conserving vulnerable species.
A new study published in PLoS Biology calls for the public's help in collecting bird sighting data, which is crucial for monitoring biodiversity. The researchers highlight that current data on common species is scarce, making it difficult to establish a 'biodiversity baseline', and urge citizens to record their sightings online.
A Caltech-led team has developed a new method for measuring the body temperatures of extinct vertebrates using rare isotopes in bones, teeth, and eggshells. This technique allows scientists to reconstruct ancient climates and understand how warm-bloodedness emerged in dinosaurs and other species.
Researchers discovered that bats can differentiate between their own and different species using individualized echolocation calls, similar to how humans recognize voices. This ability may provide an advantage in hunting grounds, while also influencing community-level interactions.
Researchers at MIT and Hebrew University identified specific classes of neurons in songbirds that match those in mammalian basal ganglia. The study suggests that the same brain circuits underlie learning in both species, with implications for human biology and disorders like Parkinson's disease.
A University of Illinois study monitored rat snakes and bird nests in fragmented forest areas, finding that rats spend more time on edges than thought, making interior nests safer. The study suggests preserving unfragmented forest habitats to conserve birds.
Researchers found that magpies exhibit 'rarer-sex disadvantage,' where sons die more when daughters are present and vice versa. This phenomenon challenges previous hypotheses on nestling mortality and suggests that parents may adjust their brood sex ratio through sex-biased mortality.
Female zebra finches often outsource parental care to neighbors, with 1 in 20 eggs being a 'cuckoo egg'. Most cuckoo eggs are laid shortly before the host parents start breeding.
A recent study on the zebra finch genome suggests that smell may be involved in bird communication, contrary to earlier assumptions. The research found that around 200 genes can potentially produce functional smell receptors, supporting the idea that some birds rely on their sense of smell.
A team of scientists, including UH biologist Preethi Gunaratne, uncovered the genome of the zebra finch, which may help people with speech impairments and learning disabilities. The study found that microRNAs play a crucial role in song learning and memory in zebra finches.
The Australian zebra finch's genome reveals a complex system for singing, with over 800 genes regulated by the action of singing. The findings may help scientists understand how humans learn language and identify genetic origins of speech disorders like autism, stroke, and stuttering.
The zebra finch genome sequencing project reveals insights into the genetics behind brain wiring, learning, and memory. The study also sheds light on evolutionary relationships between bird and mammalian genomes, identifying characteristic features common to both.
Researchers identified over 800 genes involved in male zebra finch song learning and found complex gene regulatory networks in the brain. The study's findings may help diagnose and treat conditions like stuttering and autism.
A study found that song sparrows from California displayed higher body temperatures during the night due to their longer breeding season, allowing them to prioritize their immune response. In contrast, sparrows from Washington had shorter breeding seasons, which may limit their ability to invest in immune reactions.
Researchers analyzed the zebra finch genome, finding large and complex gene regulatory networks in the brain activated by song communication. The study also discovered non-coding RNAs play a crucial role in regulating gene expression.
Researchers found that bats orient themselves using the Earth's magnetic field at night and calibrate it to the sun's position at sunset. This ability helps them navigate long distances up to 1000 km across Europe, with some species migrating seasonally.
Researchers found that each junco has a unique and recognizable odor profile stable over two weeks, distinguishable from other individuals. The study's findings suggest that smell could play a role in reproductive isolation and the origin of new bird species.
Researchers are using songbirds to understand how the human brain produces complex vocal behaviors, including speech. By studying the neural mechanisms that govern birdsong, they hope to develop a better understanding of speech disorders and language processing.