Research on birds and their behavior. Covers birdwatching and wellbeing, birds as pest control, birdsong, and migration.
Research reveals that birds, like humans, use language to settle disputes over resources. The study found that territorial songs of two antbird species were extremely similar, while non-territorial signals like calls and plumage diverged.
A new study projects that California's bird communities will undergo significant changes by 2070, with some species shifting distributions and others forming novel assemblages. This could have far-reaching consequences for ecosystems and biodiversity management strategies.
Researchers found that skylark neighbours share similar dialects in their songs, allowing them to identify and reprimand threatening intruders. This complex communication system enables the birds to maintain social cohesion and defend their territories against potential threats.
Competitive birding practices like World Series of Birding and big-year birding can harm the environment by visiting polluted sites such as Superfund sites and landfills. Many birders prioritize species tracking over environmental conservation.
A new study by Indiana University researchers found a common link between bird flocks, breast milk, and trust, regulated by neurochemicals oxytocin and mesotocin. Blocking mesotocin in female zebra finches reduced social preferences, while administering it increased social behavior.
Scientists have demonstrated a direct link between the death of old neurons and their replacement by newly born ones in a living vertebrate. The study found that introducing a chemical inhibitor to slow apoptosis resulted in fewer new neurons being formed, providing insights into age-related diseases.
A new study demonstrates that rooks can solve complex problems using tools, including raising water levels to reach a floating worm. The birds' ability to estimate the number of stones needed and adapt to different stone sizes shows remarkable intelligence.
A CU-Boulder study shows that noise pollution negatively affects woodland bird populations, with declining species richness at noisy sites. However, some bird species, such as black-chinned hummingbirds and house finches, prefer noisy areas due to reduced predation by western scrub jays.
Research finds that certain bird species can thrive in noisy areas due to a common predator's avoidance of noise, while others avoid nesting in noisy spots. The study suggests that mitigating noise pollution through better infrastructure design could help preserve bird diversity.
Researchers found that consumers perceive unfamiliar products as expensive when surrounded by high-end options, while ignoring their own car expertise. Conversely, novice consumers believe cheap cars are more expensive when seen near affordable ones.
Researchers found that brain initially stores improvements in one pathway before transferring to motor pathway for long-term storage. Young zebra finches learn to sing by mimicking their fathers' song and eventually master the syllables and rhythms through repeated practice.
A study published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology found that parents who slack off compensate with increased effort from their partner, but this is not enough to fully offset parenting responsibilities. Researchers analyzed data on bird parenting behavior over three decades and found a common pattern among species.
A new study reveals three distinct profiles of gene expression in the songbird brain, showing how birds remember and process new songs. Gene activity changes were observed even 24 hours after the initial stimulus, suggesting that memory formation is still ongoing.
A new species of stinkhorn mushroom, Phallus drewesii, has been discovered on the African island of Sao Tome. The mushroom is notable for its small size, white net-like stem, and brown spore-covered head.
Research by Sievert Rohwer and colleagues reveals that maximum body size in birds is constrained by the molt process. As bird size increases, feathers wear out before they can be replaced, requiring alternative strategies to maintain aerodynamic support. This fundamental relationship ultimately limits the size of flying birds.
Warmer weather has favored larger birds and generalist species, which are well-positioned to respond to climate change. The analysis of the annual Christmas Bird Count data reveals that only one of three predicted outcomes holds true for North American birds over the past quarter century.
African bird species are at risk of getting stuck in environments that will become too hostile for them to survive due to climate change. The research found that natural features of the landscape, such as mountain ranges and tropical forests, create barriers that many birds cannot cross.
A network of wildlife conservation areas can save up to 90% of bird species in Africa affected by climate change. The research team found that protected areas will provide new habitats for birds forced to move due to changing temperatures and rainfall.
Researchers found that birds in more unpredictable climates have more impressive singing skills, likely as a way to attract mates. The study suggests that this phenomenon may be an evolutionary adaptation for traits like language and music.
In diverse habitats, species in variable climates sing more complex tunes, indicating environmental adaptability. This connection reveals that birds may use song complexity as a display of learning ability and intelligence.
Researchers found that mockingbirds can recognize individual humans who pose a threat to their nests, leading to aggressive behavior. The birds' ability to recall these threats may be key to their success in urban environments where many species struggle to thrive.
A study by CSHL and CCNY found that zebra finches raised in isolation develop a song culture after introducing improvisations from their tutors, eventually resembling wild-type songs. The results provide insights into the evolutionary process of language.
Research found that eagle owls utilize vocal displays during dawn and dusk to convey visual signals, with a white throat badge providing better contrast in low light conditions. This challenges the assumption that diurnal species are the primary users of visual signalling.
Research by Yale University reveals that bird feathers create bright colors through nanostructures resembling a sponge with air bubbles. The structures self-assemble as the feather grows, replacing water bubbles with air, and have significant implications for the role of color in birds' plumage.
A new study reveals that climate change is drastically reducing daddy long legs populations, which in turn affects the food supply of upland birds such as golden plovers. The drop in cranefly larvae can lead to starvation and death for many chicks.
Citizen scientists transcribe historical bird records into scientific database for better understanding of climate change effects on bird populations. The USGS North American Bird Phenology Program aims to unravel the impact of global warming on bird behavior and migration patterns.
Studies show that male hummingbirds with long tails experience only a minimal cost in speed or energy, with a 3.4% drop in maximum flight speed. The researchers argue that the benefits of attracting females outweigh the costs of having long tail feathers.
The Flint Hills region is experiencing population declines in three grassland bird species: dickcissel, grasshopper sparrow, and eastern meadowlark, with estimated declines of up to 29% per year. Birds are not breeding successfully due to high nest destruction by predators.
A new indicator shows climate change is affecting many bird species in Europe, with some benefiting and others declining. The study found that 75% of the species studied are projected to decline due to climate change.
Researchers tracked songbirds using tiny geolocator backpacks, revealing they can fly up to 500 km per day, exceeding previous estimates of 150 km. Songbirds' spring return times were also found to be two to six times more rapid than in fall migration.
New research reveals that white eyes in the Zosteropidae family form new species at a faster rate than any other bird, with the fastest known rate among birds being around 2.24-3.16 species per million years. This supports the 'Great Speciator' hypothesis, suggesting intrinsic traits of sociability and adaptability drive the system.
A UGA study by Warnell researchers found that just five breeding pairs of ivory-billed woodpeckers could have ensured the species' persistence in southeastern US forests. The analysis suggests sufficient reproduction and survival rates are more important than large numbers of individuals.
A new study by University of Miami biologist Adrienne DuBois reveals that the Swamp Sparrow can modulate its vocal performance in response to aggressive interactions, a sophisticated signal used for communication. The study, published in Biology Letters, provides insights into animal cognition and the evolution of communication.
Ancient flying reptiles employed all four limbs for take-off, defying conventional wisdom. The study reveals that pterosaurs had stronger front limbs than legs, allowing them to generate massive power without sacrificing size. This discovery sheds new light on the biology and evolution of these fascinating creatures.
A Montana State University study found that males from three types of dinosaurs were sole care givers for their mate's eggs, possibly having multiple mates. The researchers examined fossil evidence and compared clutch sizes to adult sizes in the dinosaurs and their closest living relatives, birds and crocodiles.
Researchers link polygamy and paternal care in modern birds to their dinosaur ancestors. Studies found that male dinosaurs in nests had large egg clutches, suggesting multiple females contributed eggs and the males guarded them.
Young zebra finches learn new songs when they practice singing and then sleep, with changes in brain activity during sleep reflecting the tutor song and auditory feedback. This discovery provides insight into the role of sleep in learning and suggests a general mechanism for learning new skills.
Hawaiian songbird species were previously mistakenly grouped with Australian honeyeaters, but Smithsonian scientists have found they represent a new family—Mohoidae—using ancient DNA analysis. The study reveals these birds diverged from their closest living ancestor 14-17 million years ago and are specialized nectar-feeders.
A global study of 5,290 bird species found that environmental variation causes birds to lay larger clutches. The study, published in PLOS Biology, also revealed that species living in seasonal environments tend to have larger clutches than those in tropical regions.
A virus causing human-like symptoms may have emerged from a bird virus 200 years ago, according to scientists studying the common cold. Human metapneumovirus has high evolutionary rates and is closely related to Avian metapneumovirus C, suggesting a potential species barrier crossing event.
A study by the Wildlife Conservation Society found that beaver dams provide critical habitat for migratory songbirds in semi-arid regions of the West. The more dams built, the more abundant and diverse local songbirds become.
A study by biologists at Washington University in St. Louis shows that bird diversity is a buffer against the occurrence of West Nile Virus in humans. The more diverse a bird population, the lower the risk of exposure to WNV.
A study found that male birds' brains are activated in 'reward' areas when they sing to attract females, similar to the brain response to addictive drugs. This suggests that social interactions, like courtship, can activate the same brain reward circuits as natural and artificial rewards.
Researchers found that hormone levels alter the brain's response to social cues, affecting preferences for male voices and behavior. The study suggests a possible neural basis for changes in human social decision-making across the menstrual cycle.
Researchers report that male and female rufous-and-white wren partners sing duets to keep track of each other when apart. The duets also serve as a form of aggressive territory defense, with birds responding aggressively to rival individuals.
The Institute for Computational Sustainability will pursue research agendas that advance computing and benefit society, focusing on ecology, conservation, and environmental management. It aims to create a new field of computational sustainability, combining constraint optimization, dynamical systems, and machine learning.
Researchers have found that large flightless birds of the southern continents did not share a common flightless ancestor. Instead, each species lost its ability to fly after diverging from ancestors that had the ability to fly. This challenges the long-held assumption of vicariance and suggests parallel evolution among these bird species.
Male Anolis lizards engage in push-ups, head bobs, and dewlap extensions to defend their territory at dawn and dusk. This behavior is unique among animals, marking the first recorded use of non-acoustic signaling at these times.
A study by UC Santa Barbara researchers found that human colonization of islands has led to a significant increase in biodiversity, with native species making way for new, exotic plants and animals. The research suggests that ecosystems may be oversaturated, leading to potential extinctions.
Researchers found that owl faeces and prey remains can serve as visual signals for intraspecific communication, including territorial and parent-offspring contexts. This novel behavior may aid owls in signaling their reproductive status to potential intruders.
Scientists at the Smithsonian Institution have discovered a new species of olive-backed forest robin in Gabon, Africa. The bird was found to be a separate and distinct species through DNA analysis, bringing the country's total known bird species to 753.
A study published in the Journal of Computational Neuroscience found that brain cells processing visual information adjust their filtering properties to make sense of incoming data. The researchers discovered that odd-symmetric components induce systematic changes across the population of neurons in the V1 area of the visual cortex.
Researchers found that adult songbirds exposed to a novel environment undergo a significant change in their auditory brain's tuning width, becoming more selective. This process is similar to humans adapting to a new language, with increased sensitivity to fine acoustic details. In contrast, isolation caused the tuning to coarsen.
Scientists are studying zebra finches, a type of songbird, to understand how hormones like estrogen impact brain function and behavior. The research aims to uncover the role of synaptically produced estrogen in learning, memory, and neuroprotection.
Aeroecology is an emerging field exploring how airborne organisms depend on the lower atmosphere closest to the Earth's surface. This research has significant implications for understanding behavioral, ecological, and evolutionary responses of organisms in complex meteorological conditions.
Researchers found that warmer temperatures are favouring bird species with southern European ranges, such as the Cirl Bunting and Dartford Warbler, which are becoming more common across Britain. In contrast, northern species like the Fieldfare and Redwing are experiencing declining numbers
Scientists have discovered that inhibiting an enzyme involved in programmed cell death can protect brain regions from neurodegeneration in living birds. The research has the potential to help develop clinical strategies for treating strokes and human age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia.
Researchers found that songbirds control their songs with superfast muscles that can produce work at frequencies over 100 Hz, a 100 times faster than human blink rate. This discovery suggests these muscles are more common than previously thought and provide precise control of song modulations.
A new study found that palm oil plantations supported few bird and butterfly species, despite efforts to increase biodiversity. Preserving natural forests was more effective in increasing species richness, but even this approach had a limited impact.
Researchers found that bold birds, who sing from exposed sites, are more likely to be explorers and risk-takers in the wild. These individuals have a higher mating success due to their attractiveness to females.