TOPICSBirds

Birds

eagle flying against sky
Wildlife

Discovering the traits of extinct birds

Pranjal Malewar

Birds endemic to islands, lacking flight, with large bodies and pointy wings are the most vulnerable.

D. rarus
Science

The mystery of the ‘Dinky’ dinosaur’s unusually long stride solved

Pranjal Malewar

UMD paleontologist helped recreate the movements of a bird-sized raptor.

The three fossil specimens (from left to right), Avisaurus darwini, Avisaurus sp., and Magnusavis ekalakaensis, all of which are represented by a tarsometatarsus. They are all shown to scale with one another.
Science

Newly-discovered bird species may have hunted, like modern hawks and owls

Ashwini Sakharkar

Predatory birds are from the same fossil formation as SUE, the T. rex.

large birds engaged in raptorial behavior and could carry proportionally large prey.
Science

Exploring the fascinating world of cretaceous birds

PLOS

New fossil species reveal diverse body sizes and lifestyles of birds before mass extinction.

Yellow-nosed Albatross
Wildlife

How do penguins and albatrosses find their food?

Pranjal Malewar

This is the first time this ability has been identified in seabirds.

Kestrel.
Science

Kestrels could unlock the secrets to safer flight

Ashwini Sakharkar

Making drones safer and more stable in turbulent conditions.

redheaded vulture
Science

How large turkey vultures remain aloft in thin air?

Ashwini Sakharkar

Turkey vultures fly faster at altitude to defy thin air.

Image showing A reconstructed image of Pakudyptes at a New Zealand coast.
Biology

Fossil shows penguin wing evolution

Dr. Prajakta Banik

According to an international study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, a tiny fossil penguin is crucial to understanding...

The Broad-billed Tody, Todus subulatus, is a member of the bird group Coraciimorphae.
Science

Rapid evolution of bird genomes is linked to end-Cretaceous mass extinction

Amit Malewar

Life for non-avian dinosaurs ended, but the evolutionary story for the early ancestors of birds began.

Hens blush when they are scared or excited
Science

Hens blush when they are scared or excited

PLOS

Domestic chickens use flushed skin and feather fluffing to display different emotions, levels of excitement.

Image showing A new family tree of the plant genus Solanum, created by Penn State biologists, helps explain the striking diversity of their fruit color and size.
Plants

Tomato & potato fruit color, size evolved together

Dr. Prajakta Banik

In-depth Phylogeny reveals linked evolution of fruit traits in Solanum L.

Madeiran chaffinch has flown to the mans hand for food levada dos balcoes madeira portugal
Science

Birds adapt flight mechanics using lungs

Dr. Prajakta Banik

Respiratory system affects light in soaring birds.

A female blue tit on her nest
Science

Older males outcompete young males in extramarital breeding

PLOS

When adult male blue tits were absent, young males were more likely to father “extra-pair” offspring.

Pigeon in natural environment
Science

The social influences on pigeon flight routes: Study

PLOS

Pairing older and younger birds improves social proximity and flight paths across generations.

Wing-beat-frequency data
Science

The fascinating world of frequencies in animal flight and diving

PLOS

The wing and fin beats of flying and diving animals can be predicted using just body mass and wing area.

Climate change
Science

Climate change and its impact on North American animal species

PLOS

North American cities may see a significant species turnover by the end of the century.

Birds Flock
Science

How do birds flock? Uncovering aerodynamic mysteries through mathematics

Pranjal Malewar

Findings have potential applications for transportation and energy.

Bird receiving oral swab
Science

The link between West Nile Virus and Agricultural activities

PLOS

Direction of spread also associated with wetland urbanization and migratory bird patterns.

Birds flying from the tree during sun rise
Biology

Scientists built the most extensive and most detailed bird family tree to date

Pranjal Malewar

Computational tools fuel reconstruction of new and improved bird family tree.

An Anna's hummingbird
Science

How hummingbirds can fly through dense, narrow spaces?

Pranjal Malewar

Hummingbirds have evolved their own unique strategies.

Northern cardinal bird
Environment

Bright light in big cities is linked to smaller eyes in birds

Pranjal Malewar

The findings have implications for conservation efforts amid the rapid decline of bird populations.

The endangered red-crowned parrot
Science

Endangered parrot species are thriving in urban areas

Pranjal Malewar

High-tech tracking reveals red-crowned parrots have four main roosts in Texas.

Image showing starling
Science

Vocal learning linked to problem-solving skills

Pranjal Malewar

Explore the cognitive skills of vocal learners in North American birds.

Minimal world animal day creative poster design
Environment

Most species are uncommon but not excessively, So

Dr. Prajakta Banik

Exploring the worldwide distribution of species abundance.

Image showing Tern-thumb.
Environment

Arctic terns navigate environmental hazards

Vidya Nagalwade

Arctic terns may adapt to climate change risks.

Image showing black and white warbler.
Environment

Birds track environmental conditions seasonally

Vidya Nagalwade

North American birds year-round weather preferences across migratory routes.

Tick
Biology

Scientists discovered static electricity attracts ticks to hosts

Vidya Nagalwade

Ticks attract hosts through accumulated static electricity in air gaps.

Image showing bird nest.
Science

Beak shape predicts bird nest material usage

Vidya Nagalwade

Researchers have shown that the size of the beak influences the material used for bird nests.

Image showing birds flock over field
Plants

Birds are effective in reducing crop losses

PLOS

Birds have a benefit on production for some crops by controlling pests.

Image showing species.
Environment

Human predation threatens millions of species

Dr. Prajakta Banik

Humans' impact on the environment: we are a significant threat to biodiversity.

Recent Stories

Romantic relationships: Certain types of playfulness are linked to more secure attachment styles

Psychology

eaSEL: A system to promote social-emotional learning and parent-child interaction

AI & Machine Learning

The hidden struggle: Microbial warfare within your gut

Biology

Mitochondria: A way to cut Diabetes

Biology

Dark matter dominating halos of supermassive black holes 13 billion light-years away

Space