Birds Research Articles

AVOTREX: A Global Dataset of Extinct Birds and Their Traits

ABSTRACTMotivationHuman activities have been reshaping the natural world for tens of thousands of years, leading to the extinction of hundreds of bird species. Past research has provided evidence of extinction selectivity towards certain groups of species, but trait information is lacking for the majority of clades, especially for prehistoric extinctions identified only through subfossil remains. This incomplete knowledge potentially obscures the structure of natural communities, undermining our ability to infer changes in biodiversity across space and time, including trends in functional and phylogenetic diversity. Biases in currently available trait data also limit our ability to identify drivers and processes of extinction. Here we present AVOTREX, an open‐access database of species traits for all birds known to have gone extinct in the last 130,000 years. This database provides detailed morphological information for 610 extinct species, along with a pipeline to build phylogenetic trees that include these extinct species.Main Types of Variables ContainedFor each extinct bird species, we provide information on the taxonomy, geographic location, and period of extinction. We also present data on island endemicity, flight ability, and body mass, as well as standard measurements of external (matching the AVONET database of extant birds) and skeletal morphology from museum specimens where available. To ensure comprehensive morphological data coverage, we estimate all missing morphological measurements using a data imputation technique based on machine learning. Finally, we provide an R package to graft all extinct species onto a global phylogeny of extant species (BirdTree).Spatial Location and GrainGlobal.Time Period and GrainAll known globally extinct bird species from 130,000 years ago up until 2024.Major Taxa and Level of MeasurementBirds (Class Aves), species level.Software FormatSpreadsheets (.csv) stored in Dryad.

Avian Density and Diversity in Lunkaransar Lake, Rajasthan, India

Saltwater Lunkaransar which is known for mostly two things firstly the ruler of Bikaner Lunkaran and further for its Bird diversity, This is a year round investigation held monthly which mainly aims to identify the Avian Diversity and the number of Bird present in this region. Bird identified in an area of 100 square meter, A lot of birds travel to this region are migratory which are mostly seen in winter. Beside the fact that the Lake is salty this has no impact on its Bird Diversity, this makes this particular region a hotspot for Bird Watchers. One Such bird is (Kurja) Demoiselle Crane which migrates from Central Eurasia in the number of thousands, This study is based on identifying Bird density and diversity in Lunkaransar Lake, Rajasthan.

Diary of a bird watcher

Diary of a bird watcher

Parental feeding in the dinosaur Lufengosaurus revealed through multidisciplinary comparisons with altricial and precocious birds

Previous studies arguing for parental care in dinosaurs have been primarily based on fossil accumulations of adults and hatchlings, perinatal and post-hatchlings in nests and nest areas, and evidence of brooding, the majority of which date to the Late Cretaceous. Similarly, the general body proportions of preserved embryonic skeletons of the much older Early Jurassic Massospondylus have been used to suggest that hatchlings were unable to forage for themselves. Here, we approach the question of parental care in dinosaurs by using a combined morphological, chemical, and biomechanical approach to compare early embryonic and hatchling bones of the Early Jurassic sauropodomorph Lufengosaurus with those of extant avian taxa with known levels of parental care. We compare femora, the main weight-bearing limb bone, at various embryonic and post-embryonic stages in a precocious and an altricial extant avian dinosaur with those of embryonic and hatchling Lufengosaurus, and find that the rate and degree of bone development in Lufengosaurus is closer to that of the highly altricial Columba (pigeon) than the precocious Gallus (chicken), providing strong support for the hypothesis that Lufengosaurus was fully altricial. We suggest that the limb bones of Lufengosaurus hatchlings were not strong enough to forage for themselves and would likely need parental feeding.

Direct evidence of frugivory in the Mesozoic bird Longipteryx contradicts morphological proxies for diet

Diet is one of the most important aspects of an animal's ecology, as it reflects direct interactions with other organisms and shapes morphology, behavior, and other life history traits. Modern birds (Neornithes) have a highly efficient and phenotypically plastic digestive system, allowing them to utilize diverse trophic resources, and digestive function has been put forth as a factor in the selectivity of the end-Cretaceous mass extinction, in which only neornithine dinosaurs survived.1 Although diet is directly documented in several early-diverging avian lineages,2 only a single specimen preserves evidence of diet in Enantiornithes, the dominant group of terrestrial Cretaceous birds.3 Morphology-based predictions suggest enantiornithines were faunivores,4,5,6 although the absence of evidence contrasts with the high preservation potential and relatively longer gut-retention times of these diets. Longipteryx is an unusual Early Cretaceous enantiornithine with an elongate rostrum; distally restricted dentition7; large, recurved, and crenulated teeth8; and tooth enamel much thicker than other paravians.9 Statistical analysis of rostral length, body size, and tooth morphology predicts Longipteryx was primarily insectivorous.4,5 Contrasting with these results, two new specimens of Longipteryx preserve gymnosperm seeds within the abdominal cavity interpreted as ingesta. Like Jeholornis, their unmacerated preservation and the absence of gastroliths indicate frugivory.10 As in Neornithes,11 complex diets driven by the elevated energetic demands imposed by flight, secondary rostral functions, and phylogenetic influence impede the use of morphological proxies to predict diet in early-diverging avian lineages.

Endocranial development in non-avian dinosaurs reveals an ontogenetic brain trajectory distinct from extant archosaurs

Modern birds possess highly encephalized brains that evolved from non-avian dinosaurs. Evolutionary shifts in developmental timing, namely juvenilization of adult phenotypes, have been proposed as a driver of head evolution along the dinosaur-bird transition, including brain morphology. Testing this hypothesis requires a sufficient developmental sampling of brain morphology in non-avian dinosaurs. In this study, we harness brain endocasts of a postnatal growth series of the ornithischian dinosaur Psittacosaurus and several other immature and mature non-avian dinosaurs to investigate how evolutionary changes to brain development are implicated in the origin of the avian brain. Using three-dimensional characterization of neuroanatomical shape across archosaurian reptiles, we demonstrate that (i) the brain of non-avian dinosaurs underwent a distinct developmental trajectory compared to alligators and crown birds; (ii) ornithischian and non-avialan theropod dinosaurs shared a similar developmental trajectory, suggesting that their derived trajectory evolved in their common ancestor; and (iii) the evolutionary shift in developmental trajectories is partly consistent with paedomorphosis underlying overall brain shape evolution along the dinosaur-bird transition; however, the heterochronic signal is not uniform across time and neuroanatomical region suggesting a highly mosaic acquisition of the avian brain form.

Genome and life-history evolution link bird diversification to the end-Cretaceous mass extinction.

Complex patterns of genome evolution associated with the end-Cretaceous [Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg)] mass extinction limit our understanding of the early evolutionary history of modern birds. Here, we analyzed patterns of avian molecular evolution and identified distinct macroevolutionary regimes across exons, introns, untranslated regions, and mitochondrial genomes. Bird clades originating near the K-Pg boundary exhibited numerous shifts in the mode of molecular evolution, suggesting a burst of genomic heterogeneity at this point in Earth's history. These inferred shifts in substitution patterns were closely related to evolutionary shifts in developmental mode, adult body mass, and patterns of metabolic scaling. Our results suggest that the end-Cretaceous mass extinction triggered integrated patterns of evolution across avian genomes, physiology, and life history near the dawn of the modern bird radiation.

Bird names as critical communication infrastructure in the contexts of history, language, and culture

Standardized taxonomies and lists of birds were created to improve communication. They are linguistic infrastructure―biodiversity indices and dictionaries―that have been painstakingly built and maintained and that have enhanced regional and global participation in the study and enjoyment of birds. Inclusion of people has been a core objective in creating and maintaining these standardized lists, and dissatisfaction and desires to overwrite objectionable names have been associated with them for nearly two centuries. Suggestions that bird names should be changed are continuous. Today, these suggestions include the view that some bird names must be changed to make them more accurate, inoffensive, and culturally appropriate to further increase diversity and inclusion among ornithologists and bird watchers. The latter, meritorious goal has been largely successful thus far despite many ongoing objections. Historic examples indicate that large-scale name changes, however, are not needed to accomplish major societal goals of inclusion. Some barriers to inclusion likely remain, and some changes are likely needed for English names. Often overlooked or underappreciated in name change discussions are that: 1) standardized names lists have had numerically staggering success in fostering inclusion of diverse participants globally; 2) stability is vital in such systems, and destabilization has exclusionary effects; 3) dissatisfaction with such lists and the names they include has been ongoing since these naming systems began; 4) important flexibilities exist in conjunction with these communication systems that enhance local and regional communication (e.g., alternative names in English and other languages); and 5) cultural values, important as they are, are neither universally shared nor constant, and thus risk bringing divisiveness and instability when used as a central reason for change. Consideration of standardized lists of bird names as communication systems in the fuller context of history, language, and culture will improve our management of these systems and their continued utility in fostering inclusion. With standardized, stable naming systems acting as a skeleton, proactively building outwards, both within and among languages and cultures, offers a positive and productive way to increase inclusion and to improve cultural and biodiversity conservation.

Bird Watching as a Conservation Driver

Bird Watching as a Conservation Driver

Birds of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Nepal

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park harbors diverse avifauna. The last checklist of birds for Shivapuri, published by SNP and BCN (2007), covered 318 species. However, it excluded the Nagarjun Forest birds as this area wasn't incorporated into the national park until 2009. Since then, many new bird sightings have been reported in Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park (SNNP). To address this gap, we've compiled a comprehensive checklist of SNNP birds in Nepal's central mid-hills, drawing on direct observations and a literature review. A total of 396 species of birds belonging to 18 orders and 71 families were known to occur in the park. Order Passeriformes (n=260, 65%) and family Muscicapidae (n=50, 12%) have the highest record of the number of species. Out of 396 bird species, 237 species were recorded during the recent survey of 2021–2022 and 159 species were considered from the past literatures. 10.60% (n=42) of the recorded bird species are classified as nationally threatened according to Nepal’s national red list and 2% (n=8) are listed as globally threatened. The globally threatened birds include Vulnerable greater spotted eagle Aquila clanga, imperial eagle Aquila heliaca, and Kashmir flycatcher Ficedula subrubra; Endangered steppe eagle Aquila nipalensis and Pallas’s fish eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus; and Critically Endangered white-rumped vulture Gyps bengalensis, slender-billed vulture Gyps tenuirostris and red-headed vulture Sarcogyps calvus. A total of 55 species recorded are included in the CITES Appendices; one species is also listed in the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act (NPWCA) Schedule I, and the park includes spiny babbler Acanthoptila nipalensis the only endemic bird of Nepal. Resident species make up the majority (n=243, 61.36%) of birds recorded in the national park. The remaining are the migrants which include summer and winter visitors, passage migrants and vagrants.

An avifaunal checklist of the Bani Wildlife Sanctuary, Jammu & Kashmir, India

Protected areas are important for biodiversity conservation as they offer suitable habitats and protection from anthropogenic activities that harm wildlife. Establishing additional protected areas such as National parks, Wildlife sanctuaries, and Biosphere reserves reduces the threat to a species compared to non-protected areas. Before designating an area as protected, it’s crucial to identify which species are threatened and require urgent conservation efforts. The present study was undertaken in the Bani Wildlife Sanctuary, which falls in the western Himalayas, from March 2021 to February 2022 to compile an avifaunal checklist of the sanctuary. The checklist was created by conducting systematic field surveys and opportunistic bird sightings. A total of 135 bird species belonging to 45 families were recorded during the present study. The family Muscicapidae, represented by 17 species, dominates the list. Our study confirmed that the Bani Wildlife Sanctuary supports a rich avifaunal community with three species Western Tragopan Tragopan melanocephalus, Cheer Pheasant Catreus wallichi, and Bearded Vulture Gypus barbatus classified as Threatened in the global Red List by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Nature interpretation in green space of Universitas Sumatera Utara

Universitas Sumatera Utara competes with various other campuses to win the title of the best Green Campus through the UI Green Metric ranking. Tree vegetation at USU is also an added value for the campus. The campus is a favorite location for people to visit and enjoy the environmental services. The interest of visitors who come is certainly an opportunity as well as a challenge for USU to continue maintaining and developing tree vegetation which is a provider of environmental services for the surrounding. Therefore, research on the potential nature interpretation activities in green space at USU needs to be done and studied further. This study used field observation techniques by visiting various locations. Field findings data are described descriptively and tabulatively. The green space of USU has various potential locations for nature interpretation and environmental education, such as; bird watching, rare vegetation species, fruit spots, sports, photography, wildlife behavior, and flowering periods of vegetation. The results are expected to be useful in the learning process about the environment for the academic community and visitors who come, efforts to maintain a microclimate, develop further research, and support efforts to mitigate global warming.

Protozoan parasites of birds from the Tremembé formation (Oligocene of the Taubaté Basin), São Paulo, Brazil

ObjectiveTo analyze the presence of protozoan parasites in bird coprolites from the Tremembé Formation (Oligocene of the Taubaté Basin). MaterialsTwenty avian coprolites embedded in pyrobituminous shale matrices. MethodsSamples were rehydrated and subjected to spontaneous sedimentation. ResultsPaleoparasitological analyses revealed oocysts compatible with the Eimeriidae family (Apicomplexa) and one single Archamoebae (Amoebozoa) cyst. ConclusionsThe present work increases the amount of information about the spread of infections throughout the Cenozoic Era and reveals that the Brazilian paleoavifauna played an important role in the Apicomplexa and Amoebozoa life cycles. SignificanceThis is the first record of protozoans in avian coprolites from the Oligocene of Brazil. These findings can help in the interpretation of phylogenies of coccidian parasites of modern birds, as certain taxonomic characters observed in the Oligocene Protozoa characterize monophyletic groups in current molecular phylogenetic analyses. LimitationsNone of the oocysts were sporulated; therefore, it is not possible to identify the morphotypes to genus or species. Suggestions for further researchOur results create new perspectives related to biogeographic studies of the parasitic groups described and may improve the understanding of the temporal amplitude of parasitic evolutionary relationships between Protozoans and birds.

A chromosome-level genome assembly of the Asian house martin implies potential genes associated with the feathered-foot trait.

The presence of feathers is a vital characteristic among birds, yet most modern birds had no feather on their feet. The discoveries of feathers on the hind limbs of basal birds and dinosaurs have sparked an interest in the evolutionary origin and genetic mechanism of feathered feet. However, the majority of studies investigating the genes associated with this trait focused on domestic populations. Understanding the genetic mechanism underpinned feathered-foot development in wild birds is still in its infancy. Here, we assembled a chromosome-level genome of the Asian house martin (Delichon dasypus) using the long-read High Fidelity sequencing approach to initiate the search for genes associated with its feathered feet. We employed the whole-genome alignment of D. dasypus with other swallow species to identify high-SNP regions and chromosomal inversions in the D. dasypus genome. After filtering out variations unrelated to D. dasypus evolution, we found six genes related to feather development near the high-SNP regions. We also detected three feather development genes in chromosomal inversions between the Asian house martin and the barn swallow genomes. We discussed their association with the wingless/integrated (WNT), bone morphogenetic protein, and fibroblast growth factor pathways and their potential roles in feathered-foot development. Future studies are encouraged to utilize the D. dasypus genome to explore the evolutionary process of the feathered-foot trait in avian species. This endeavor will shed light on the evolutionary path of feathers in birds.

Global latitudinal gradients and the evolution of body size in dinosaurs and mammals

Global climate patterns fundamentally shape the distribution of species and ecosystems. For example, Bergmann’s rule predicts that homeothermic animals, including birds and mammals, inhabiting cooler climates are generally larger than close relatives from warmer climates. The modern world, however, lacks the comparative data needed to evaluate such macroecological rules rigorously. Here, we test for Bergmann’s rule in Mesozoic dinosaurs and mammaliaforms that radiated within relatively temperate global climate regimes. We develop a phylogenetic model that accounts for biases in the fossil record and allows for variable evolutionary dispersal rates. Our analysis also includes new fossil data from the extreme high-latitude Late Cretaceous Arctic Prince Creek Formation. We find no evidence for Bergmann’s rule in Mesozoic dinosaurs or mammaliaforms, the ancestors of extant homeothermic birds and mammals. When our model is applied to thousands of extant dinosaur (bird) and mammal species, we find that body size evolution remains independent of latitude. A modest temperature effect is found in extant, but not in Mesozoic, birds, suggesting that body size evolution in modern birds was influenced by Bergmann’s rule during Cenozoic climatic change. Our study provides a general approach for studying macroecological rules, highlighting the fossil record’s power to address longstanding ecological principles.

Unveiling the Heaven: First Sighting of Four Avian Species in Kibber Wildlife Santuary, Trans Himalayan Ecosystem, Himachal Pradesh, India

Globally all mountains including the Himalaya are highly susceptible ecosystems due to the given climatic conditions and land-use changes. Field observations play crucial role in grasping the birds distribution species in biologically and evolutionary important regions particularly in Trans Himalayan ecosystem like the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary with abundant avian species diversity among all vertebrates found in sanctuary. Present research paper deals with significant bird species sightings in this hard-to-access sanctuary. These bird sightings show how conducting biological surveys and continuous monitoring work help to enhance our understanding using various methods. The stratified random sampling technique was employed for avian fauna survey. Earlier, there were almost negligible efforts made on comprehensive studies of vertebrate diversity in the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary which makes this study more significant as it will be the baseline information for the forest department and scientific research. The records of four documented birds species are valuable especially since these all are first sightings in the KWS and their IUCN status was also evaluated. Listing of bird’s species will contribute to a better understanding of birds distribution and will be helpful for future research and conservation plans.

Tourism in a protected natural area (PNA)

Tourism activity in natural protected areas is increasing worldwide. These areas belong to the country's heritage and their natural conditions should be preserved, taking advantage of the resources and the sustainable use of the area. The general objective of the study was to analyse the perception of travel agencies and visitors to a natural protected area and the specific objectives were to determine the image of the natural protected area from the perspective of visitors and to learn about the travel agencies' perception of the natural protected area as a tourist destination for sport hunting and hiking. The study is a mixed approach, basic, non-experimental, descriptive, cross-sectional design. A probabilistic sampling by convenience and intentional was estimated, considering 100 visitors and 5 formal travel agencies in the city of Mancora with interest in providing tourist services to the protected natural area. The study found that 12% of the visitors agree that the area has an image of an ecological and restful place, a place for tourism activities such as trekking, sport hunting, hiking, bird watching, biking, and photography. On the other hand, travel agency representatives have little knowledge of the destination; however, they show interest in considering the destination as part of their tourism packages, given that there is evidence of potential demand because the destination is innovative and offers sports tourism practices.

Complexity of avian evolution revealed by family-level genomes

Despite tremendous efforts in the past decades, relationships among main avian lineages remain heavily debated without a clear resolution. Discrepancies have been attributed to diversity of species sampled, phylogenetic method and the choice of genomic regions1–3. Here we address these issues by analysing the genomes of 363 bird species4 (218 taxonomic families, 92% of total). Using intergenic regions and coalescent methods, we present a well-supported tree but also a marked degree of discordance. The tree confirms that Neoaves experienced rapid radiation at or near the Cretaceous–Palaeogene boundary. Sufficient loci rather than extensive taxon sampling were more effective in resolving difficult nodes. Remaining recalcitrant nodes involve species that are a challenge to model due to either extreme DNA composition, variable substitution rates, incomplete lineage sorting or complex evolutionary events such as ancient hybridization. Assessment of the effects of different genomic partitions showed high heterogeneity across the genome. We discovered sharp increases in effective population size, substitution rates and relative brain size following the Cretaceous–Palaeogene extinction event, supporting the hypothesis that emerging ecological opportunities catalysed the diversification of modern birds. The resulting phylogenetic estimate offers fresh insights into the rapid radiation of modern birds and provides a taxon-rich backbone tree for future comparative studies.

L’influence relative de la modification de l’habitat sur l’assemblage d’oiseaux dans le site de l’Université Notre Dame du Kasaï-Central en République Démocratique du Congo

The aim of this study was to determine the ‘’ relative influence of habitat modification on bird assemblage’’. To estimate the ecological interest of reforestation on the Campus of Notre Dame du Kasaï site, the birds were photographed, identified and then compared to all species listed in Avibase of the region. The site hosts about 12.4% of species identified throughout the region. The following birds would be new to the Kananga area compared to Kasaï-Central bird Checklist: Bubulcus ibis, Upupa africana, Lanius collaris, Terpsiphone rufocinerea and Camaroptera brevicaudata. This study consists in demonstrating the impact of reforestation on wildlife, particularly birds. This aspect of applied biology is therefore part of the context of conservation biology. The publication of the species is a strategy for their visibility to lovers of eco-tourism based on bird watching. This could attract them and thus contribute to the economy of the region. It is on the basis of all this information that on the one hand, eco-tourism based on bird observations could develop throughout the Kasaï-Central province and on the other hand, strategies for the protection of vulnerable species will be proposed.

Enigmas no longer: using ultraconserved elements to place several unusual hawk taxa and address the non-monophyly of the genus Accipiter (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae)

Abstract Hawks, eagles, and their relatives (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae) are a diverse and charismatic clade of modern birds, with many members that are instantly recognized by the general public. However, surprisingly little is known about the relationships among genera within Accipitridae, and several studies have suggested that some genera (in particular, the megadiverse genus Accipiter) are not monophyletic. Here, we combine a large new dataset obtained from ultraconserved elements, generated from whole genome sequencing of 134 species, with publicly available legacy markers (i.e. a suite of commonly sequenced mitochondrial and nuclear genes) to infer a well-supported, time-calibrated phylogeny of 237 extant or recently extinct species. Our densely sampled phylogeny, which includes 90% of recognized species, confirms the non-monophyly of Accipiter and provides a sufficient basis to revise the genus-level taxonomy, such that all genera in Accipitridae represent monophyletic groups.