Research on birds and their behavior. Covers birdwatching and wellbeing, birds as pest control, birdsong, and migration.
By reading electrical signals in a bird's brain, researchers can predict specific syllables and when they will be sung. This breakthrough technology has the potential to develop vocal prostheses for humans with speech disorders.
A new study from the Kalahari Desert finds that teamwork allows birds to cope with brutally unpredictable environments. The research team at the University of Exeter shows that families with more helpers successfully raise more chicks in dry conditions, reducing weather-driven variation in breeding success.
Researchers successfully detected local mammals and birds by collecting 18 litres of water from a two-kilometre stretch along the river Mulde. The team identified 50% of fish species, 22% of mammal species, and 7.4% of breeding bird species in the region.
Despite 10,000 years of inbreeding, the kākāpō genome sequencing reveals that the species has lost potentially deleterious mutations and now carries fewer harmful mutations than extinct mainland populations. This finding suggests that natural selection may have facilitated genetic purging in small populations.
Researchers are studying how climate change is forcing animals to evolve and adapt, with changes in beak and ear sizes reported in birds and tail length increases in mice, experts warn that these changes may have unintended ecological consequences
Researchers have identified global hotspots where bird malaria is spreading rapidly, with significant impacts on bird populations. The study found that climate and forest conditions play a crucial role in predicting infection risks, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to protect bird species from this deadly disease.
Researchers at the University of California - Riverside discovered that hummingbirds can avoid insects with defensive compounds, such as formic acid, which harm birds. The study shows that scent plays a crucial role in hummingbird foraging decisions and ecosystem function.
Researchers at Flinders University found that embryos of three bird species can distinguish between their parents' calls and non-specific sounds, building on complexity of vocal learning. This study paves the way for new insights into evolutionary and developmental timescales.
Researchers used flight efficiency estimates from museum specimens to predict bird dispersal distances, revealing that species with elongated wings can disperse farther. This study has applications in biodiversity conservation, as reduced flight capabilities may threaten bird populations.
Researchers found that over a quarter of female white-necked Jacobin hummingbirds exhibit showy colors similar to males, aiding in evasion of aggressive behaviors during feeding and mating. This study suggests that the display of flashy colors is driven by social selection rather than sexual selection.
Researchers found that one-third of female hummingbirds resemble males, allowing them to feed without being attacked. This phenomenon suggests non-sexual social selection plays a role in the evolution of female ornamentation.
Research team investigates urbanization's impact on farmland bird communities in Bangalore, India, finding that urbanization homogenizes bird species, eliminating insect-eating birds essential for pest control. The study highlights the importance of preserving biodiversity to maintain ecosystem resilience and food production systems.
Researchers from Cornell University have identified key factors in bird-plane collisions, including the time of year and species size, to inform collision avoidance strategies. The study predicts that risk for damaging strikes during periods with high migration intensity increases by up to 700%.
A new method validates up to 70% of diurnal bird image identifications on Flickr. The technique uses image features and machine learning algorithms to identify bird species.
A new study finds that male acorn woodpeckers breeding in polygamous groups with one or two other males sire significantly more chicks over their lifetimes than males breeding alone. In contrast, females in polygamous groups leave behind fewer offspring than those in monogamous pairs.
A study by the University of Helsinki found raccoon dogs to be a significant threat to ground-nesting bird populations in Northern Europe. The invasive species was found to destroy nests and prey on farmed mallard eggs, contributing to the decline of waterbird populations.
A study at the University of São Paulo found that bird species interacting with more plant species have higher evolutionary stability. This is because they occupy central positions in seed dispersal networks, leading to longer lifespans and increased species accumulation.
A recent study by Tel Aviv University and the Weizmann Institute found that humans are responsible for the extinction of about 10%-20% of all avian species over the past 20,000-50,000 years. The majority of extinct species were large, flightless, and lived on islands.
A HKU team has developed a framework to determine the diet of fossil birds, allowing scientists to better understand ancient avian behavior. By combining various techniques, including medicine and materials science, the researchers identified previously unrecognized agreements on the diet of certain species.
Researchers attached GPS and video cameras to black-footed albatrosses, capturing thousands of video clips across wide swathes of the north Pacific. The imaging showed that debris encountered by the birds included styrofoam, plastic sheets, and fishery netting, suggesting plastic creates a platform for invasive species to spread.
A Yale study has identified significant gaps in biodiversity maps, limiting effective conservation decisions globally. The researchers created regional trends maps to assess the distribution of 31,000 terrestrial vertebrates, highlighting opportunities for citizen scientists and government agencies to support biodiversity monitoring.
A study reveals that birds' eye size reflects their environment, diet, and behavior, providing insights into conservation efforts. The research suggests that larger eyes are associated with closer proximity to the equator and foraging habits near the forest floor.
Researchers found medium tree finch nests with high parasite survival rates, while hybrid finches had lower rates. Nestling behaviour also predicted naris deformation due to vampire fly parasitism.
Researchers have discovered that toxic animals produce 'toxin sponges' to mop up deadly toxins and prevent them from binding to vital proteins. This alternative autoresistance strategy may offer a general means of toxin protection, including the development of antidotes against various toxic agents.
Researchers from Chapman University discover that non-reproductive birds' brains mimic changes in female mice post-partum when induced to become parents. This finding opens new avenues for understanding the regulation of parental care across vertebrates.
A new study published in Ecosphere suggests that fear plays a significant role in underdeveloped nestlings and increased vulnerability among urban songbirds. Urban landscapes can have a profound effect on birds' behavior, causing them to change their behavior to avoid perceived predators, leading to reduced weight and survival rates.
Researchers discovered a rare bird fossil with nearly complete skull, allowing them to compare ancient bird brains to living birds. The study suggests that complex brain structure may have played a key role in the survival of bird ancestors during the mass extinction event.
New study reveals Sulawesi Babblers have diversified rapidly over a short period of time due to their understorey lifestyle, changing genetically, physically and behaviorally. The research suggests that these birds can evolve quickly even in relatively small geographic areas.
Researchers found mammalian-like hippocampal activity in food-caching songbirds like the tufted titmouse, which processes spatial memory using mechanisms similar to those in mammals. This challenges long-held assumptions about the neural basis of spatial memory in non-mammals.
Researchers found that songbirds can sense sweetness regardless of their primary diets, with the ability emerging early within the songbird radiation. The team identified the molecular basis of this ability and found that it has been conserved in nearly half of all birds living today.
A recent study published in Science found that songbirds can indeed taste sugar, contrary to long-held assumptions. The researchers' findings suggest that songbirds evolved to sense sweetness approximately 30 million years ago, possibly due to the availability of sugary food sources.
Researchers study rare warbler hybrid with mismatched color patterns to disentangle genetic drivers of traits usually inherited together. The team identifies new location in genome linked to black face mask and confirms previously identified region for black throat patch.
A 120-million-year-old fossil of a tiny bird found in China shares structural and functional features with the massive Tyrannosaurus rex. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of birds from dinosaurian ancestors.
A study from McGill University found that songbirds use similar speech patterns to humans, including shorter elements in longer phrases. The researchers suggest that physical factors such as muscle fatigue and limited lung capacities may play a role in these patterns.
A new study from the University of Utah reveals that more bird species in the Philippines may be endangered than previously thought, including those yet to be discovered. The research identifies key traits that make certain species more at risk of extinction, such as narrow elevation ranges and dependence on forests.
A study from University of California San Diego demonstrates the possibility of re-creating a bird's song by reading its brain activity, laying the foundation for building vocal prostheses for humans. The approach uses machine learning algorithms to map neural patterns to mathematical equations modeling the physical changes in the bird...
New research shows that dense sweet pittosporum canopies reduce bird richness and abundance, leading to declines in ground-dwelling birds. Restoration projects must balance weed control with retention of structural value to support local plants and animals.
A new study found that birds across the continental US tend to avoid backyard feeders in louder areas, while even more species stay away when both light and noise pollution are present. Common bird species such as American goldfinches and cedar waxwings avoid areas with excessive noise.
Bird collisions in Chicago are significantly correlated with high-intensity local migration, decreased moon illumination, and increased offshore winds. Minimizing building lighting at night may reduce collision rates among nocturnally migrating birds, according to a study by Benjamin Van Doren et al.
A new study found that darkening even some windows at night during bird migration periods could reduce bird collisions by 60%. Researchers analyzed data from McCormick Place convention center and found that half of the building's windows being illuminated resulted in 11 times fewer nighttime bird collisions during spring migration.
Researchers discovered that songbirds have fine control over their songs, including frequency control below one Hertz, and can activate single muscle fibers simultaneously. This high level of control is crucial for female attraction and speciation.
Researchers found that individual bird species respond uniquely to extreme winter weather events, with some experiencing population changes after polar vortexes. Winter heat waves also led to increased bird abundance and occurrence in affected regions.
A new scientific study suggests that dark 'eyeliner' feathers of peregrine falcons have evolved to reduce sunlight glare, thereby improving their hunting ability. The research found that the size and darkness of the malar stripe, directly beneath the eyes, vary positively with solar radiation levels.
A study reveals that Eurasian jays are susceptible to illusions using fast movements, similar to humans. However, the birds are more influenced by observable motions than expected motions, differing from human perception.
Researchers studied the brain activity of singing male and female plain-tailed wrens, discovering that they synchronize their duets by inhibiting the song-making regions of their partner's brain. This inhibition allows for a seemingly telepathic performance, with the birds becoming a single entity through sensory linkages.
A study published in PLOS Biology highlights the importance of diverse conservation strategies to maximize regional biodiversity and maintain ecosystem services. Researchers found distinct groups of species in 'Strictly Protected' areas compared to 'Restricted' and 'Non-Protected' sites.
A new study by the University of New South Wales estimates that there are approximately 50 billion individual birds in the world, with many iconic Australian species falling within this number. However, other rare species like the Black-breasted Buttonquail have only around 100 members left, highlighting the need for conservation efforts.
Researchers assess Ethiopian bird species through six years' worth of bird banding efforts, finding high species richness near lower elevations and six new species at higher elevations. The study establishes baseline observations for tropical birds in East Africa.
A study examining global occurrences and population estimates for approximately 92% of all extant bird species found that there are approximately 50 billion individual birds in the world. Most bird species are rare, with only a few having estimated global populations of over 1 billion individuals.
Young zebra finches exposed to traffic noise developed songs with lower accuracy and were delayed in their vocal development. Chronic stress due to noise also suppressed the birds' immune function, leading to potential long-term health issues.
Researchers identified genetically marked neurons in a zebra finch's forebrain, revealing a landscape of physiology and network roles that mirror those in mammals. This breakthrough advances insight into the fundamental operation of complex brain circuits, suggesting ancient cell types retained features over millions of years.
A century-long study of bird species on Barro Colorado Island reveals that forest fragmentation leads to significant biodiversity loss, with species shifting towards drier habitats. Researchers found that birds living in wet forests are more likely to disappear from isolated habitat remnants.
Researchers developed an innovative method using acoustic lighthouses to reduce bird strikes with tall human-made structures. By broadcasting specific sounds, these 'acoustic lighthouses' minimize the risk of collisions without visually disturbing birds.
Researchers Constantina Theofanopoulou and Erich Jarvis demonstrate that the human hormone oxytocin is the same gene across all major vertebrate lineages, finding synteny in the hormone's receptor. They advocate for a new standard nomenclature to make life easier for scientists studying oxytocin and other hormones.
A study published in PNAS found that zebra finches have a low-density lipoprotein receptor gene with key domains missing, allowing them to carry high levels of good cholesterol while avoiding high cholesterol-related diseases. This genetic adaptation may hold clues for improving cardiovascular disease treatment.
Research suggests that tolerance, cooperation, and reduced aggression in domesticated birds are linked to increased language complexity in humans. The study analyzed genomic, neurobiological differences between domesticated Bengalese finch and its wild relative, finding altered stress hormone balance and brain connectivity patterns.
A new study uses eBird data to identify areas of low Bald Eagle abundance, paving the way for citizen-science data to shape policy decisions. The research finds that eBird data is the most accurate and reliable source for assessing eagle populations, providing valuable insights for conservation efforts.
Researchers compared four main bird species lists worldwide, finding that they agree on most birds but disagree in some regions. The lists differ by application, and some regions are understudied, leading to missed species. This highlights the need for true diversity recognition to conserve biodiversity.
A new study by German researchers found that higher species diversity is positively related to mental health, with people living in regions with more plant and bird species reporting better mental well-being. However, the study did not find a significant relationship between biodiversity and physical health.
Researchers developed a wireless implant to rapidly change adult songbirds' songs, expanding the toolbox for neuroscientists to study brain behavior and vocalization. The device, about the size of a dime, can modulate specific neurons during birdsong, causing pitch changes.