Research on birds and their behavior. Covers birdwatching and wellbeing, birds as pest control, birdsong, and migration.
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.
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.
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.
Researchers track changes to individual dendritic spines in juvenile male songbirds' brains as they learn from adult tutors. The study finds that hearing a tutor song rapidly stabilizes previously dynamic synapses, providing a foundation for learning new behaviors.
Scientists have documented unprecedented biodiversity in Yasuní National Park, including 596 bird species, 150 amphibian species, and over 1,100 tree species. The park's extraordinary diversity is threatened by proposed oil development projects.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have identified neurons in the songbird brain that convey auditory feedback needed to learn a song. The study lays the groundwork for improving human speech in individuals with damaged auditory nerves, and explores how the brain compares performance-related feedback to a sensory model.
Researchers found that coots can recognize their own chicks and reject impostor chicks, a remarkable cognitive ability that helps them defend against parasitic chicks. This skill is essential for the survival of coot offspring, as parents learn to identify their own chicks through the first-hatched chicks.
In cooperative breeding species, female birds show off sexually to compete with each other and with males. Researchers found that these females evolved traits such as colorful plumage and elaborate dances, comparable to those of males.
A University of British Columbia study found that tropical birds waited until the formation of the Isthmus of Panama land bridge to migrate northward, revealing a key role in biodiversity exchange. The research suggests that many tropical bird species were reluctant to fly across open water and instead waited for the land bridge comple...
Researchers at UC Davis studied birds' alarm calls to determine their purpose. The findings suggest that these vocalizations serve both to alert other birds to danger and to warn off predators.
Researchers found that male birds' songs with higher pitches are associated with greater genetic diversity, making them more attractive mates. The study suggests that females can pick up on the pitch of males' songs to decide which birds will make the best mates.
Researchers have created a method using microphone arrays to estimate bird population density from recorded sounds, which may also be applied to tracking whales and dolphins. This innovative approach eliminates the need for observers to count birds, providing a more accurate index of abundance.
Researchers found that bat migration evolved independently within the Vespertilionidae family, with most species migrating for better hibernating conditions. The study discovered a correlation between migration and roost use, with tree-roosting bats more likely to migrate.
A new technique using infrared spectroscopy can accurately determine the gender of six-week-old turkey poults with over 95% accuracy, potentially saving millions of male chicks from being killed shortly after birth. This method could be used by the breeding industry to identify female eggs for breeding and select female turkeys.
A comprehensive study of over 260 sub-fossil specimens reveals that moas should be grouped into three families and six genera, reducing the number of species to nine. The study also presents a new geological model suggesting that land-dwelling animals on the North and South Island were isolated for most of the past 20-30 million years.
Researchers found evidence of two breeding seasons among five songbird species in western Mexico, challenging previous understanding of bird migration patterns. The discovery reveals that some birds take advantage of the monsoon season to raise young and then continue their journey.
In a field study, University of Washington researchers found that juvenile song sparrows learn their repertoire by eavesdropping on singing conversations between two adult birds. This process involves tracking the birds' movements and responses to recorded bird songs played over two speakers.
The study finds that Archaeopteryx grew slowly, taking 970 days to mature, similar to dinosaurs, and its bone growth rate was three times slower than living birds. This challenges the common perception of Archaeopteryx as a bird-like creature.
A ten-year study found that up to 70% of female alligators remained loyal to their mates, a similarity with bird mating habits. This discovery sheds light on the ancestral mating systems of birds and dinosaurs.
Researchers have developed transgenic songbirds to study the molecular secrets of vocal learning and neuronal replacement. The birds, which can be manipulated genetically, will enable scientists to explore these complex processes at the molecular level.
Researchers observed Great Tits eating hibernating Common Pipistrelle bats in a Hungarian cave during harsh winters. The birds used the sounds made by the bats to locate them, and could capture and eat them in as little as 15 minutes.
Mary Tinetti, a Yale aging expert, will use her grant to further fall prevention research for older adults, while Richard Prum, an evolutionary biologist, aims to explore the physics of structural color in nature. Both researchers were awarded $500,000 'genius' grants by the MacArthur Foundation.
Introduced Japanese white-eyes are depleting food sources, causing stunted growth and higher death rates among native Hawaiian birds. This is leading to increased susceptibility to diseases like malaria and chewing lice, further threatening the already endangered species.
A study led by biologists at UC Berkeley found that 48 out of 53 bird species in California's Sierra Nevada mountains have adjusted their ranges in response to climate change, with some moving towards warmer temperatures and others preferring wetter conditions. The researchers used data from a survey of 82 sites and compared past and p...