Articles tagged with Birds
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A recent study by Kansas State University researchers found that birds cheat on their mates to avoid inbreeding and increase genetic diversity. In a collaborative study of three shore bird species, the team discovered that infidelity rates are significantly lower than those observed in songbirds.
An international team of scientists found that birds use alternative reproductive behaviors to avoid inbreeding depression when mates are genetically similar. Extra-pair paternity and quasi-parasitism occur at low frequencies, but more importantly, extra-pair parentage occurs when parents are more related to each other.
Researchers found that neighborhoods with higher socioeconomic status have more diverse bird populations, while lower-income areas tend to have fewer birds. The study analyzed data from 15 Phoenix-area community parks and suggests that socioeconomic factors play a significant role in shaping the local bird population.
Woodpecker finches rely on tool use to extract food from bark and tree-holes in scarce environments, outperforming conventional foraging techniques. This unique adaptation allows them to acquire larger, high-energy prey.
The LSU Museum of Natural Science is part of a $4 million grant to compare DNA sequences of 500 bird species. The goal is to understand the history of avian diversity and reconstruct the evolution of bird behavior, morphology, and ecology.
Acid rain is harming wood thrush populations, with declines of up to 5% annually in regions with high acidity. The decline may be related to leaching of calcium from the soil, affecting food availability and breeding success.
A study of 15 community parks found that bird diversity and abundance are linked to neighborhood income, not park size or vegetation. However, the correlation between trees and bird populations is weak, suggesting other factors, such as cat populations or urban planning, may be at play.
Researchers at the University of Michigan found that low-density exurban development increased by 2000 to occupy nearly 10 times the area of urbanized land, while agricultural land use decreased in some areas. Special planning can help minimize environmental impact through designs that deliver public benefits like clean water and nativ...
A study by Duke University scientists found that excess plant-eating monkeys on small islands spur extra tree growth, boosting insect populations that attract birds. The density of birds is strongly correlated with the density of howler monkeys.
Illicit crops, particularly opium poppies, are expanding into critical bird habitats in the Andes region of Colombia. This could lead to devastating effects on forest-dependent bird species if the expansion continues.
A study by Andrew Hansen and Jay Rotella found that development near nature reserves can harm bird populations, as many species rely on productive habitats outside the reserve. The researchers suggest that conserving population source areas outside reserves is necessary to protect biodiversity in nature reserves.
Research by University of Georgia wildlife scientists found that clover strip-cropping and conservation tillage systems in cotton provide critical habitat for threatened songbirds. Clover offers cover from predators, insects for food, and time to nest and fledge young between field operations.
A study by researchers at the University of Michigan found that lakeshore housing development affects breeding bird communities in ways that conventional methods may miss. The study suggests that property owners can take steps to lessen the effects, such as keeping lawns small and encouraging native vegetation.
Researchers from Cornell University deployed acoustic recording units to capture sounds from the Pearl River drainage, but found no indication of the ivory-billed woodpecker's presence. The technology may provide conclusive evidence on future sound recordings.
Research reveals that female starlings choose mates with the strongest immune systems, as these males tend to have better singing abilities. The finding supports a decade-old theory that suggests evolution has found a way to prevent male birds from cheating on their reproductive quality.
A study by Ohio State University researchers found that farming inside forests reduces bird diversity and nesting success compared to timber harvesting. The study's results suggest that small agricultural openings can have a significant impact on bird populations.
A study found that traditional floodplain forest restoration may decrease bird diversity, with some species preferring uncommon tree species. The researchers recommend replanting floodplain forests with rare and heavy-seeded trees to support a diverse avian community.
Researchers have found that birds excel in tasks such as combining objects in specific orders, using vocal labels, and learning complex songs. This suggests that the neural machinery involved in these abilities may not be unique to primates, but rather has evolved separately in birds.
A new species of carnivorous dinosaur, Sinovenator changii, has been discovered in China, revealing that major structural modifications towards birds occurred earlier than previously thought. The fossil is closely related to the oldest known bird, Archaeopteryx, and provides evidence that birds did not evolve from dinosaurs.
Researchers analyzed carbon and hydrogen isotopes in black-throated blue warbler feathers to link northern breeding populations with southern wintering grounds. The study found a significant correlation between isotopic composition and geographical location.
A new study reveals that parrot plumage contains fluorescent pigments that signal sex appeal, attracting mates. Researchers found that applying sunscreen reduced the birds' fluorescence, resulting in a decreased sexual preference.
A recent study found that prescribed burns in eastern U.S. deciduous forests can decline ground-nesting bird species by over 80% due to reduced leaf litter and shrubs. However, two bird species increased in response to the burns, suggesting that fire may improve their foraging habitat.
A comprehensive study of flamingo genes reveals a shocking family tree, with the elegant flamingo's closest relative being the squat grebe. The study's findings suggest that physical features like long legs and webbed feet evolved repeatedly in aquatic bird species, contradicting traditional classification systems.
A comprehensive analysis of aquatic bird genes reveals that flamingos are closely related to grebes, contrary to their physical appearance. The study suggests that evolutionary change occurred at a faster pace than previously recognized, with physical features evolving repeatedly in different species.
A nearly complete bird fossil found in Mongolia provides insight into the origin of living birds and the evolution of flight. The Apsaravis ukhaana specimen is from a part of the evolutionary tree close to the origin of all living birds, shedding new light on their evolution.
A new study suggests that the shape of a bird's beak affects its courtship song, with smaller beaks producing quicker, more varied melodies. This finding has implications for our understanding of speciation, as different songs may help distinguish between species.
Researchers found that young birds can recognize and prefer learning the songs of their own subspecies over other types. The study also revealed that birds have a more finely detailed sense of song than previously thought. After tutoring, two-thirds of the birds chose to sing their own subspecies' song.
New research in Conservation Biology found that fragmented rainforests can lose biodiversity for a century. The study, led by Thomas Brooks, suggests that conserving the most-recently isolated fragments will save the greatest number of species from extinction.
Biologists at the University at Buffalo discovered that the presence of a fertile female in the next nest can cause a male to stray, leaving his mate unguarded. The phenomenon is linked to local breeding synchrony, where multiple females lay eggs in the same area.
Researchers found that spotted antbirds in a Panama rainforest increase testosterone levels to boost aggression against invaders, even during the off-season. This finding has implications for understanding aggression regulation in humans and may reveal insights into physiological parameters.
The second Dynamics Days international conference will bring together experts in chaos, nonlinear dynamics, and complex systems to share their research. Speakers will discuss topics such as internet storms, animal coordination, extinction causes, and pattern formations.
The USGS has released 30 years of Christmas Bird Count data, showing significant increases in eastern bluebirds, American crows, and American goldfinches, while declines are noted for bobwhites, loggerhead shrikes, field sparrows, and mockingbirds. The data provides valuable insights into bird population trends and patterns over time.
A new index developed by Jamie Coleman and David Styer uses bird counts to evaluate the condition of wetland habitats. The model identifies thriving wetlands with high water-loving bird populations and declining wetlands with fewer birds adapted to drier environments.
A genetic analysis by University of Illinois researchers reveals that Illinois Prairie Chickens have lost significant genetic diversity due to population decline, affecting their fitness. The study suggests introducing birds from neighboring states may help restore the species' numbers and health.