Birds

Discovering the traits of extinct birds
Birds endemic to islands, lacking flight, with large bodies and pointy wings are the most vulnerable.

The mystery of the ‘Dinky’ dinosaur’s unusually long stride solved
UMD paleontologist helped recreate the movements of a bird-sized raptor.

Newly-discovered bird species may have hunted, like modern hawks and owls
Predatory birds are from the same fossil formation as SUE, the T. rex.

Exploring the fascinating world of cretaceous birds
New fossil species reveal diverse body sizes and lifestyles of birds before mass extinction.
How do penguins and albatrosses find their food?
This is the first time this ability has been identified in seabirds.
Kestrels could unlock the secrets to safer flight
Making drones safer and more stable in turbulent conditions.
How large turkey vultures remain aloft in thin air?
Turkey vultures fly faster at altitude to defy thin air.
Fossil shows penguin wing evolution
According to an international study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, a tiny fossil penguin is crucial to understanding...
Rapid evolution of bird genomes is linked to end-Cretaceous mass extinction
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
Domestic chickens use flushed skin and feather fluffing to display different emotions, levels of excitement.
Tomato & potato fruit color, size evolved together
In-depth Phylogeny reveals linked evolution of fruit traits in Solanum L.
Older males outcompete young males in extramarital breeding
When adult male blue tits were absent, young males were more likely to father “extra-pair” offspring.
The social influences on pigeon flight routes: Study
Pairing older and younger birds improves social proximity and flight paths across generations.
The fascinating world of frequencies in animal flight and diving
The wing and fin beats of flying and diving animals can be predicted using just body mass and wing area.
Climate change and its impact on North American animal species
North American cities may see a significant species turnover by the end of the century.
How do birds flock? Uncovering aerodynamic mysteries through mathematics
Findings have potential applications for transportation and energy.
The link between West Nile Virus and Agricultural activities
Direction of spread also associated with wetland urbanization and migratory bird patterns.
Scientists built the most extensive and most detailed bird family tree to date
Computational tools fuel reconstruction of new and improved bird family tree.
How hummingbirds can fly through dense, narrow spaces?
Hummingbirds have evolved their own unique strategies.
Bright light in big cities is linked to smaller eyes in birds
The findings have implications for conservation efforts amid the rapid decline of bird populations.
Endangered parrot species are thriving in urban areas
High-tech tracking reveals red-crowned parrots have four main roosts in Texas.
Vocal learning linked to problem-solving skills
Explore the cognitive skills of vocal learners in North American birds.
Most species are uncommon but not excessively, So
Exploring the worldwide distribution of species abundance.
Birds track environmental conditions seasonally
North American birds year-round weather preferences across migratory routes.
Scientists discovered static electricity attracts ticks to hosts
Ticks attract hosts through accumulated static electricity in air gaps.
Beak shape predicts bird nest material usage
Researchers have shown that the size of the beak influences the material used for bird nests.
Birds are effective in reducing crop losses
Birds have a benefit on production for some crops by controlling pests.
Human predation threatens millions of species
Humans' impact on the environment: we are a significant threat to biodiversity.