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        <title>Frontiers in Bird Science | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bird-science</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Frontiers in Bird Science | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
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        <pubDate>2026-05-04T19:44:42.694+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2026.1797647</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2026.1797647</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Capacity building as a pathway to indigenous participation in tropical birding and citizen science]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-04T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Samuel T. Ivande</author><author>Jacinta I. Abalaka</author><author>Fidelis A. Atuo</author><author>Yahkat Barshep</author><author>Adams A. Chaskda</author><author>Filibus D. Dami</author><author>Bello A. Danmallam</author><author>Stella W. Egbe</author><author>Iniunam A. Iniunam</author><author>Soladoye B. Iwajomo</author><author>Panshak S. Kumdet</author><author>Nanchin W. Kazeh</author><author>Shiiwua A. Manu</author><author>Joseph D. Onoja</author><author>Abubakar S. Ringim</author><author>Talatu Tende</author><author>Ulf Ottosson</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionCitizen science presents a critical pathway for advancing biodiversity monitoring and conservation globally, yet local and indigenous engagement remains limited in many developing countries.MethodsThis study evaluates the impact of targeted capacity building on indigenous participation in birding and citizen science in Nigeria, integrating formal training workshops and informal bird club networks to foster skill transfer and social learning. Using eBird and Nigerian Bird Atlas Project data from 2000–2024, we quantitatively compare checklist submission rates and qualitatively assess motivations and barriers through participant questionnaires.ResultsResults reveal that capacity building initiatives substantially increased indigenous contributions and lowered entry barriers, with marked improvements in technical proficiency and sustained engagement.DiscussionThese findings demonstrate that community-driven training and inclusive outreach could be pivotal for broadening participation and advancing locally anchored citizen science, providing a scalable framework for biodiversity monitoring in similar contexts.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2026.1726840</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2026.1726840</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Abundance, distribution, and conservation status of critically endangered vultures in N’Djamena and environs, Chad, Central Africa]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-27T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Djekillamber Djekadjim</author><author>Irene Di Lecce</author><author>Abiola Sylvestre Chaffra</author><author>Emma Ellis</author><author>David D. L. Goodman</author><author>Alaaeldin Soultan</author><author>Nico Arcilla</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Vultures provide essential environmental services by eliminating animal carcass remains and preventing the spread of diseases, but unfortunately, many African vulture species have exhibited significant population declines and are now in imminent danger of global extinction. In West Africa, anthropogenic drivers of these declines include poisoning and persecution for a lucrative, burgeoning wildlife trade for belief-based use, in which vultures command some of the highest prices. To date, however, little information has been available to inform vulture conservation in Chad, Central Africa. We assessed the abundance, distribution, and conservation status of critically endangered hooded vultures (Necrosyrtes monachus) at 11 slaughterhouses and waste sites in and around N’Djamena, Chad’s capital and largest city, and conducted 93 interviews with local residents to evaluate anthropogenic threats, attitudes, and awareness about vultures. Vultures appeared to be absent at more than half (55%) of sites surveyed, and we estimated a total population of ~113 hooded vultures at all remaining sites. Vulture abundance was higher at sites with more vegetation, and lower at sites with higher human population densities. Interview participants reported familiarity with five endangered and critically endangered vulture species, and the majority (89%) recognized that vultures and other birds are protected by law in Chad. However, nearly half (47%) of respondents reported knowledge of recent vulture poisoning incidents, and over a third (37%) indicated that foreign poachers, reportedly from countries including Nigeria, Niger, Benin, and Cameroon, use poison to trap and/or kill vultures in Chad for use in international trade. Illegal wildlife trade in West Africa thus appears to negatively affect vulture populations and environmental health in Central Africa, where international collaboration is urgently needed to protect remaining vulture populations.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2026.1737313</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2026.1737313</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Warm temperatures and severe fire drive a range contraction of an avian old-forest specialist in the Sierra Nevada, USA]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-25T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Luca Bielski</author><author>Spencer R. Keyser</author><author>M. Zachariah Peery</author><author>Connor M. Wood</author>
        <description><![CDATA[In recent decades, climate change has exerted detrimental effects on forest ecosystems and the biodiversity they harbor, in part via the combined effects of rising temperatures and changing disturbance regimes. Old-forest species may be acutely sensitive to these changes, especially in ecosystems such as the Sierra Nevada, USA, where historical losses of old-forest habitat are now coupled with a rise in atypically large, severe fires. However, the combined effects of temperature and severe fire are relatively understudied at landscape scales. We used a four-year, landscape-scale passive acoustic monitoring program to study the Hermit Warbler (Setophaga occidentalis), a temperature- and fire-sensitive bird species that is closely associated with old-forest habitat. Using a dynamic occupancy model, we characterized the population dynamics in response to elevation, latitude, relative temperature, and high-severity fire. The Hermit Warbler population declined 8.3% during our study, shifting away from the warmer, lower-elevation, and southern sites and toward sites at higher latitudes. It displayed a strong extinction response to severe fire over a 1-10-year post-fire period and failed to colonize such areas over the same time span. Our results suggest that limiting the occurrence of large, severe fires will be necessary to preserve this old-forest indicator but not sufficient: rising temperatures will also lead to population declines even in the absence of habitat loss due to fire. As climate change accelerates, understanding species’ responses to shifting environmental conditions will be crucial for guiding adaptive management and ensuring the persistence of biodiversity in fire-prone landscapes.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2026.1779032</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2026.1779032</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Disease-driven variation in body reserves links social rank, flock size, and overwinter survival in European greenfinches]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-05T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Indrikis A. Krams</author><author>Ronalds Krams</author><author>Sergejs Popovs</author><author>Colton B. Adams</author><author>Todd M. Freeberg</author><author>Tatjana Krama</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionSocial living offers both benefits and costs, particularly when infectious disease alters the balance between competition, energy reserves, and survival. In flocking passerines, individuals differ in dominance rank and access to resources, which may shape body condition and overwinter survival in a context-dependent manner. We studied wintering greenfinches (Chloris chloris) to examine how social rank, flock size, and trichomonosis outbreaks interact to influence body reserves and survival until spring.MethodsOver multiple winters, including years with and without a trichomonosis epidemic, we measured body mass, wing length–based body mass index (BMI), dominance rank, and overwinter survival of individually marked birds across flocks spanning a wide range of sizes.ResultsAnalyses revealed that BMI varied more strongly with dominance and epidemic context than total body mass, indicating that size-adjusted body condition is a more sensitive indicator of short-term energetic strategies under disease pressure. Body reserves varied with dominance rank in a flock-size–dependent manner: in medium-sized and very large flocks, higher-ranking individuals tended to maintain higher BMI than subordinates, whereas no clear rank-related differences in BMI were detected in small flocks. These rank-dependent patterns were further modified during epidemic winters in a flock-size–specific way, with altered dominance–BMI relationships particularly evident in medium-sized flocks.DiscussionOverwinter survival increased with BMI during the epidemic, indicating that greater body reserves enhanced the likelihood of surviving to spring under disease pressure, whereas BMI showed a weak negative association with survival outside of epidemic conditions. Together, these results demonstrate that disease-driven environmental conditions modify the relationships between social structure, energetic strategies, and survival. Our findings highlight how infection risk can reshape adaptive trade-offs between dominance, body reserves, and fitness outcomes in social birds.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2026.1770303</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2026.1770303</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Flight calls of Eastern and Western Purple Finches (Haemorhous purpureus) are diagnostically different]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-25T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>W. Douglas Robinson</author><author>Y. Kuang</author><author>L. M. Wigger</author><author>Thomas P. Hahn</author><author>Matthew A. Young</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) populations in eastern and western North America differ in morphological traits and genetic characteristics, yet their vocal divergence has not been quantified. We analyzed flight-call structure in Eastern and Western birds using measurements of frequency and call duration. Multivariate analyses revealed strong acoustic differentiation between subspecies, driven primarily by differences in maximum frequency, minimum frequency, and frequency span. Duration was not significantly different. Variation among subspecies in flight call characteristics was much greater than variation within individuals or within subspecies. Discriminant function analyses correctly identified calls in 93% of samples that were originally identified by the recordist or by assignment based on known geographic ranges. The five misclassified birds were all recorded in the West, had been assigned subspecies status based on range, were detected only outside the typical breeding season and were statistically Easterns. After re-assignment, the chance of misclassifying a bird to the incorrect subspecies was near zero. Only one bird in our sample, recorded in the putative zone of overlap in the Pacific Northwest, was marginally intermediate in its frequency characteristics. The reliable identification of flight calls is useful because Eastern and Western Purple Finches are highly distinctive genetically and may warrant full species status. In addition, the growing popularity of public archives for bird sound recordings increases the possibilities to track movements of infraspecifically diverse taxa like Purple Finches that are highly vocal but whose plumage variation is subtle. Finally, the existence of structurally divergent calls suggests the possibility of broader ecological and evolutionary differentiation.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2026.1740187</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2026.1740187</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Bird species traits in recreational areas – building a human restoration value of bird species and connecting it to the mental well-being of recreationists in Germany]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-20T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Brief Research Report</category>
        <author>Janina Vanhöfen</author><author>Nadine Kalb</author><author>Christoph Randler</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Preferences for animal species and their popularity vary significantly between species, even within a taxonomic group such as birds. Understanding which characteristics influence human preferences for certain bird species can help to promote targeted conservation measures and define so-called ‘flagship species’ for conservation programs. However, the extent to which such species-specific characteristics also affect human psychological well-being remains largely unclear. The positive impact of interacting with birds on the human psyche is currently being researched. However, a grey goose could potentially have a different impact on the human experience of nature and, thus, also on psychological well-being in local recreation areas than, for example, a blue tit or a nightingale. Which species-specific characteristics play a role in this is still largely unclear. We therefore compiled data on species-specific characteristics for 118 bird species that were mapped in 40 different areas in southwest Germany. One factor was summarized from four species traits in a principal component analysis, building the human restoration value. An index was calculated for each location (HRV = human restoration value of bird species). In a second step, these indices were then correlated with the mental well-being and place attachment of 1,184 people in the 40 project areas. The results show a positive correlation between the HRV and satisfaction. Compiling species-specific characteristics relevant to human well-being into one factor, such as the HRV presented here, might enable future projects to investigate the recreational value of nature areas based on bird abundance.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2025.1728231</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2025.1728231</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Bridging citizen science and policy for bird conservation in Africa: lessons from the Nigerian bird atlas project]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-12T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Opinion</category>
        <author>Iniunam Aniefiok Iniunam</author><author>Nanlep Kumle</author><author>Bello Adamu Danmallam</author><author>Anthony Gicheha Kuria</author><author>Rosie Trevelyan</author><author>Ulf Ottosson</author><author>Adams Chaskda</author><author>Talatu Tende</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2026.1757541</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2026.1757541</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Ecological traits as predictors of avian reporting rates and monitoring gaps: a 12-year analysis of iNaturalist in Nigeria]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-10T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Abubakar Surajo Ringim</author><author>Sulaiman Inuwa Muhammad</author><author>Haruna Mohammed Abubakar</author>
        <description><![CDATA[To prioritise interventions amid the biodiversity crisis, this study applied a vulnerability framework to Nigerian avifauna by analysing 12 years of crowdsourced iNaturalist data (2013–2025). We defined vulnerability as a function of species’ sensitivity (extinction risk and specialization) and adaptive capacity (dietary breadth and movement). Analysing 8,751 research-grade records across 631 species, we tested how ecological traits predict IUCN status and reporting rates. Results showed a significant inverse association between adaptability and extinction risk. We identified a specialist penalty and monitoring gap: highly sensitive species contributed only 5% of the dataset, while generalists with high adaptive capacity dominated observations. Despite this bias, the data documented six new country records, including the African Rail (Rallus caerulescens) and Ross's Turaco (Musophaga rossae), as well as several range extensions. We conclude that while citizen science is a vital tool for monitoring common species and rapid discovery, targeted expert-led surveys remain essential for specialists. This study demonstrates that unstructured iNaturalist data can effectively inform the design of integrated biodiversity monitoring frameworks in West Africa.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2026.1671357</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2026.1671357</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Ranges of Evening Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina) call types 1 and 2 documented from community science and targeted placement of automated recorders]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-05T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>William M. Kirsch</author><author>Thomas P. Hahn</author><author>Matthew A. Young</author><author>W. Douglas Robinson</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The Evening Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina) is a species of North American Fringillid finch with at least five populations defined by differences in their flight calls. Groups with different flight calls generally occupy different geographic ranges during the breeding season and are referred to as call types. In Oregon and California, USA, call types 1 and 2 overlap in the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges, but the geographical extent of this overlap remains unclear. We used citizen science data, our own ad hoc surveys, and a network of autonomous recording units (ARUs) across a longitudinal range from northern California into Oregon to quantify the distributions of these call type populations. We found a clear north-south transition, with type 1 birds occurring primarily in the northern sections of our study area while type 2 birds were predominantly detected in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Both types overlapped during the breeding season in southern Oregon. Both types also wandered widely after the breeding season and often co-occurred throughout the study area, especially in the Sierra Nevada. Type 2 was always rare north of southern Oregon. Additionally, our ARU data indicate greater occurrence of both call types where Evening Grosbeaks were most often recorded overall, especially after the breeding season. Our results align with Grinnell’s (1917) hypothesis of the presence of a contact zone between two populations of Evening Grosbeaks in Oregon and California and clarify the current extent of this geographic overlap.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2026.1738732</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2026.1738732</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Sex-specific colony attendance before and during the fertilization window in Nazca boobies]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Brief Research Report</category>
        <author>Trey Ursillo</author><author>David Reyes</author><author>Enzo M. R. Reyes</author><author>Francis van Oordt</author><author>Andreinna Morán</author><author>Jennifer L. McKee</author><author>Erynn J. Rebol</author><author>Mary Grace London</author><author>Jessica B. Huskey</author><author>David J. Anderson</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Nazca boobies (Sula granti), a colonial pelagic seabird, face a tradeoff before egg production between foraging at sea and mating effort on land. All individuals must both forage and secure a partner for the coming breeding season. However, the sex ratio is male-biased, so males must attend the colony to attract females (the limiting sex) and counter females’ conspicuous sexual promiscuity. We hypothesized that this exacerbates the sea-land tradeoff for males, rewarding colony attendance at the expense of foraging opportunities. We tested the prediction that males attend the colony more than females do early in breeding. Four years of nocturnal attendance data supported the prediction: males did consistently attend the colony more than females before and during egg-laying, reducing the males’ time at sea accordingly for weeks. This difference nearly disappeared after the clutch was complete and pair bonds firmly established. The exception to this pattern was notable: on the night before clutches were initiated the attendance probability of males in these breeding pairs was anomalously low (0.18), most males being at sea. Before and after this night these breeding males had attendance probabilities of 0.69 and 0.71, respectively. This night in each breeding pair’s timeline separates the fertilization windows of the first egg and a possible second (and final) egg, presenting a brief break in paternity risk for the males, and most go to sea. These results are consistent with a sexually selected response by males to improve success in pairing and paternity, and suggest a tradeoff with foraging.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2025.1726726</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2025.1726726</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Large language models enable large-scale analysis of human-bird relationships in South African cities]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-01-15T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Sage K. Naidoo</author><author>Chevonne Reynolds</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Human perceptions of urban wildlife can shape conservation priorities and public support for biodiversity initiatives, however research on human-bird relationships remains spatially biased towards the Global North. Here we assessed the perceptions of 36 urban bird species across four South African urban contexts using a mixed-methods approach. Survey respondents (n = 1,977) rated species likeability on a 5-point Likert scale and provided open-ended explanations for their ratings. Quantitatively, South African urban birds were generally well-liked, with notable variation among species: the Malachite Kingfisher (Corythornis cristatus, mean ± SE = 4.91 ± 0.02) and Orange-breasted Sunbird (Anthobaphes violacea, 4.91 ± 0.02) scored highest, and the Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis, 2.50 ± 0.03) scored lowest. To analyse the approximately 71,000 open-ended responses, we employed ChatGPT, a generative AI large language model, to identify eight themes underlying species appeal. The highest-rated species were primarily valued for aesthetic appeal and emotional connections, while the lowest-rated species were associated with aggressive behaviours and negative ecological impacts. Factor analysis revealed three perceptual clusters, demonstrating that some species evoke multidimensional responses whilst others are viewed through a single dominant lens. Notably, aesthetic patterns did not universally predict appeal and many highly rated raptor species were valued for emotional connections rather than physical traits. Additionally, negative perceptions did not apply uniformly to all non-native or problematic species, with some receiving moderately positive responses despite ecological concerns. These findings highlight the complexity of human-bird relationships in urban contexts and demonstrate that large language models can enable qualitative analysis at large scales. By offering an African perspective, this study contributes to a more inclusive understanding of how urban residents perceive and value birds.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2025.1677075</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2025.1677075</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Fire-crested alethes (Alethe castanea) follow humans and bushbuck in Uganda’s Budongo Forest]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-11-10T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Brief Research Report</category>
        <author>Elodie Freymann</author><author>Derry Taylor</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This report documents four observations of a novel foraging behavior in fire-crested alethes (Alethe castanea) in the Budongo Forest Reserve of Western Uganda, where the birds were observed following humans and bushbuck, likely to flush out insect prey, diverging from their typical ant-following strategy. These observations expand our understanding of commensal relationships in tropical forest ecosystems and highlight the adaptability of bird foraging strategies.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2025.1686148</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2025.1686148</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Avifauna richness and detection reliability between structured scientific surveys and citizen science data]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-10-30T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Joseph Kwasi Afrifa</author><author>Obed Segbefia</author><author>Abdulai Sulemana</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Citizen science has emerged as a cost-effective complement to structured biodiversity surveys, yet its reliability for small-scale avian monitoring in Africa remains underexplored. This study compared avifaunal species richness, detection accuracy, and the influence of species traits on detectability between full-protocol African BirdMap data (citizen science) and structured surveys conducted within the Cape Coast Metropolitan Area, Ghana. Structured surveys recorded 208 species, while citizen science reported 215, with 176 species (71.3%) shared. A total of 32 and 39 species were unique to the structured survey and citizen science data, respectively. Structured surveys showed higher data accuracy and a narrower confidence interval (99.5%, CI: 0.97–0.99) than citizen science (96.4%, CI: 0.93–0.98). Generalized linear modeling also showed that species detectability was influenced primarily by traits rather than survey method. High vocalization and moderate plumage conspicuousness increased detection likelihood, whereas rarely vocal species were significantly underdetected. Once traits were accounted for, method type was not a significant predictor of detectability (p = 0.85). These findings indicate that well-standardized citizen science protocols can yield avian richness and detectability estimates comparable to structured surveys, though expert-led verification remains vital to minimize misidentification and maintain data quality. The results support integrating citizen science into local avifaunal monitoring, particularly in resource-limited contexts.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2025.1654140</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2025.1654140</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Editorial: Bioenergetic and behavioral effects of rapid anthropogenic change and eco-evolutionary implications]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-08-29T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Editorial</category>
        <author>Melissa L. Grunst</author><author>Andrea S. Grunst</author><author>Jérôme Fort</author><author>Jacquelyn K. Grace</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2025.1613273</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2025.1613273</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Quantitative analysis of the flight calls and trills of Evening Grosbeaks (Coccothraustes vespertinus)]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-08-08T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>William M. Kirsch</author><author>Caleb T. Centanni</author><author>Song Han Ngo</author><author>Matthew A. Young</author><author>Thomas P. Hahn</author><author>W. Douglas Robinson</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Diversity within species can be masked by minor differences in external appearance but revealed by group differences in vocal characteristics such as flight calls of Fringillid finches. These flight calls vary among infraspecific groups within a species. In Evening Grosbeaks (Coccothraustes vespertinus), existence of five distinct call types have been hypothesized to occur, yet the variation within and between the different call types has yet to be quantitatively evaluated. We measured characteristics of flight calls and another common call form, trills, across the North American range of the Evening Grosbeak. We analyzed our own recordings as well as those contributed to digital sound archives to map, measure and, with the aid of cluster and discriminant function analyses, classify flight calls and trills into types. Flight calls of types 1, 2, 3, and 4 were readily distinguishable from each other but trills were less distinctive. A fifth set of calls that group together in cluster analyses includes birds from the southwestern United States, Mexico and, surprisingly, from Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. However, flight calls from central Canada and Mexico/Arizona still showed several statistically significant differences, so we hypothesize existence of six flight call types. Our interpretation may be influenced by currently small sample sizes and lack of summer samples from Mexico. Here, we refer to the Mexico/Arizona birds as type 5 and the Alberta and Saskatchewan birds as type 6 but recognize that additional information could provide stronger evaluation of these categories. Except for some type 3, 4 and 6 flight calls that were very similar according to the spectrographic properties included in our analyses, most Evening Grosbeak flight calls are diagnosable to type with a high degree of confidence. We encourage additional collection of recordings across North America, especially from central Canada, Arizona, and Mexico. Future studies can utilize sound recordings to identify infraspecific call type groups, map their seasonal movements and investigate variation in call structure through time to facilitate progress toward unraveling the evolutionary importance of such cryptic diversity.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2025.1534188</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2025.1534188</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Spot-billed toucanet Selenidera maculirostris (Aves: Ramphastidae): importance of citizen science and scientific data in investigating its occurrence in modified environments around the largest urban area in South America]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-08-04T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Fabio Schunck</author><author>Maria Luciene da Silva Rodrigues</author><author>Marco Antonio Rego</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Toucans and toucanets are widely distributed in the Neotropical Region. Some species perform regional movements in search of food resources, but little is known about this behavior and the use of modified habitats. The spot-billed toucanet Selenidera maculirostris is endemic to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. The species is threatened with extinction in the state of São Paulo (Brazil) due to deforestation. We compiled historical and current data on the occurrence of the species in the São Paulo Metropolitan Region (SPMR), the largest urban area in South America, to investigate the hypothesis that this species performs seasonal regional movements between preserved forests and modified areas during the autumn and winter. Data from the literature, online platforms, and a 17-year field study produced a total of 200 records since 1889, for 45 locations, indicating that the species has a wide occurrence in the SPMR, being common to the Serra do Mar. It occurs in the preserved forests of the southern portion of the SPMR throughout the year and is more common in the altered and fragmented forests near the Serra do Mar in autumn–winter. These possible seasonal movements between more preserved areas and altered areas are probably in search of food, a behavior that needs further study since the forests of the SPMR have been rapidly destroyed in recent years.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2025.1587072</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2025.1587072</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A decade of diving: responses of Cassin’s auklets to variable foraging conditions in the California Current System]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-05-29T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Nina J. Karnovsky</author><author>Pete Warzybok</author><author>Andre Cavalcanti</author><author>Johanna Hardin</author><author>Zachary W. Brown</author><author>Eleanor Caves</author><author>Clare M. Flynn</author><author>Gail Gallaher</author><author>Nicole McDuffie</author><author>Kristina McOmber</author><author>Russell W. Bradley</author><author>Meredith L. Elliott</author><author>Benjamin T. Saenz</author><author>Jaime Jahncke</author>
        <description><![CDATA[We investigated how a planktivorous seabird adjusts its foraging behavior in response to different levels of prey biomass. We studied the diving behavior of Cassin’s auklets (Ptychoramphus aleuticus) breeding on Southeast Farallon Island and feeding in the highly variable California Current System. In recent years Cassin’s auklets have experienced mass mortality events and complete reproductive failure due to anomalous atmospheric and oceanographic conditions. We hypothesized that in years with low prey biomass, Cassin’s auklets work harder to collect food for themselves and for their chick and that reproductive success is lower during those years. To test this hypothesis, we equipped 133 Cassin’s auklets with Time Depth Recorders from 2008 – 2017. We estimated krill biomass levels in the top 30 m during oceanographic cruises carried out where Cassin’s auklets foraged. We measured the annual number of chicks fledged per pair. In years with high prey biomass reproductive success was very high and Cassin’s auklets collected prey in fewer, deeper and longer dives. They spent more time in the bottom of their dives and more time underwater. When krill biomass was low, they made shallow, shorter dives and a higher number of these dives during their foraging trips. Variability in the California Current System greatly influenced the diving behavior and reproductive success of the Cassin’s auklets. Climate anomalies that lead to extremely low krill biomass are expected to become more frequent. Cassin’s auklets are likely not going to able to increase their foraging effort enough to be able to survive and reproduce.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2025.1568877</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2025.1568877</link>
        <title><![CDATA[No apparent effect of feather heavy metal levels on exploratory behavior of streak-backed orioles (Icterus pustulatus) living near mining waste in central Mexico]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-05-09T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Brief Research Report</category>
        <author>Lynna Marie Kiere</author><author>Oscar Josue Amaro Flores</author><author>Jocelyn Nathaly Maldonado Gómez</author><author>Jaqueline García-Hernández</author><author>Isaac G-Santoyo</author><author>Marcela Osorio-Beristain</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Heavy metals and metalloids (HM) such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury are well known to have toxic effects in numerous biological systems. Mining waste is a major source of HM pollution worldwide. Here, we address the effects of HM exposure from living near abandoned mining waste in the Huautla mining district of central Mexico on the exploratory behavior of the streak-backed oriole. Using a field-implemented novel environment test, we quantified individuals’ movements, visual scans, and self-directed behaviors; then, we quantified the concentrations of four toxic (arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium) and two essential HM (copper, zinc) from their contour feathers. Using principal components analysis to summarize behavioral variables showed that there were three main axes of variation (77% of variance), describing overall activity (32.8%), visual scans versus self-directed behaviors (24.5%), and exploration latency (19.9%). None of these components was affected by any of the HM or interactions among them. This was somewhat surprising, given that we found exceedingly high levels of arsenic and moderate levels of lead, mercury, and copper (though no detectable cadmium or zinc). Further work will be needed to disentangle the relative importance of different HM, temporal mismatch between HM circulating in the body and those measured in feathers, and the possibility of detoxification, adaptation, or selective filters earlier in the life cycle of this population, which has been exposed to mining waste for many generations.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2025.1566509</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2025.1566509</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Urbanization and brood parasitism affect growth, but not free amino acid concentrations in nestling song sparrows (Melospiza melodia)]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-04-25T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Isaac J. VanDiest</author><author>Samuel J. Lane</author><author>Taylor E. Fossett</author><author>Kendra B. Sewall</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Urbanization is projected to grow rapidly in the coming decades. Several consequences of this form of anthropogenic change for ecosystems and individuals are described by the fields of urban ecology and urban ecophysiology, respectively. Of the environmental variables that could pose challenges for urban-living animals, energy limitations may be especially important, particularly for animals with critical periods of growth, such as nestling songbirds. Many studies document reduced arthropod prey availability for songbirds living in urban habitats, which can compromise the growth and condition of nestlings, possibly because of protein limitation. In our study system of replicate urban and rural song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) populations, there is lower arthropod biomass in urban habitats, as well as higher rates of brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater), which can cause additional nutritional limitation. Therefore, we hypothesized that urban nestling song sparrows may be protein-limited and experience compromised growth and body condition relative to rural nestlings. We tested this hypothesis with two studies. First, we took body measurements during the first 10 days of development from rural nestlings, urban nestlings without brood parasites, and urban nestlings with brood parasites to see if groups differed in growth (n = 348 nestlings over 6 years). Second, we collected nestling plasma samples (n = 43) from a subset of the birds measured in the first study and then used liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to determine concentrations of free amino acids. We found rural nestlings had greater change over time in body mass and tarsus length compared to both urban groups. However, we found no differences in amino acid concentrations across these nestling groups. Thus, urbanization appears to affect growth rates in song sparrows, especially when brood parasites are present in a nest, but we found no evidence supporting amino acids as the mechanistic link for these differences in our system.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2024.1518077</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2024.1518077</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Editorial: Computational bioacoustics and automated recognition of bird vocalizations: new tools, applications and methods for bird monitoring]]></title>
        <pubdate>2024-12-23T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Editorial</category>
        <author>Yizhar Lavner</author><author>Cristian Pérez-Granados</author>
        <description></description>
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