From partial to complete: Wing- and tail-feather moult sequence and intensity depend on species, life-cycle stage, and moult completeness in passerines
2024
Passerines moult during various life-cycle stages. Some of these moults involve the retention of a variable quantity of wing and tail feathers. This prompts the question whether these partial moults...
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Endochondral ossification of hindlimbs in embryonic development of Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica)
2024
The endochondral ossification of hindlimb is essential to a bird's ability to stand, walk and fly. Most hindlimb is ossified in the embryos before hatching in precocial birds. However, the molecular...
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Seasonal changes in Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) song syntax
2024
In many songbird species, birdsong features phonological syntax, meaning that the units within their vocal sequences are ordered in a non-random way that adheres to a rule. While such syntactical patterns...
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Inbreeding and genetic load in a pair of sibling grouse species: Tetrastes sewersowi and T. bonasia
2024
Genetic load and inbreeding are recognized as important factors to be considered in conservation programs. Elevated levels of both can increase the risk of population extinction by negatively impacting...
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Integrating host biological and ecological variables to predict probability of haemosporidian infection in raptors
2024
Variations in host traits that influence their exposure and susceptibility may impact probability of vector-transmitted diseases. Therefore, identifying the predictors of infection probability is necessary...
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Individual consistency in spatiotemporal characteristics of migratory Whimbrels in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway
2024
Many migratory birds exhibit interannual consistency in migration schedules, routes and stopover sites. Detecting the interannual consistency in spatiotemporal characteristics helps understand the maintenance...
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Population genomic data reveal low genetic diversity, divergence and local adaptation among threatened Reeves's Pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii)
2024
Population genomic data could provide valuable information for conservation efforts; however, limited studies have been conducted to investigate the genetic status of threatened pheasants. Reeves's...
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Bird species present in urban parks are more colorful than urban avoiders: A test in the Argentinian Pampas
2024
Bird plumage color has been assessed as a possible trait driving the presence of bird species in urban areas. Although some species can see the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, the mentioned studies did not...
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Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) nestlings adapt their begging behavior to the host signal system
2024
Common Cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) dependent on parental care for post-hatching demonstrate an intriguing ability to modify their begging vocalizations to ensure maximum care and resources from their...
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Does social information affect the settlement decisions of resident birds in their second breeding attempt? A case study of the Japanese Tit (Parusminor)
2024
Individuals may gather information about environmental conditions when deciding where to breed in order to maximize their lifetime fitness. They can obtain social information by observing conspecifics...
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Combining video and GPS-tracking to study the spatial foraging distribution of a single-prey loading seabird
2024
Seabirds are valuable indicators of marine ecosystem processes and studying seabird diets can shed light on natural or human-induced variability in food-web composition. Specifically single-prey loading...
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Detecting the distribution of and public attitudes to charismatic alien species based on media coverage
2024
Charismatic species are often reported by the media, providing information for detecting population status and public perception. To identify the number and distribution of free-living Black Swan (Cygnus...
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Feeding ecology and interactions with mammal hosts in a symbiotic genus of birds (Buphagus spp.) in Namibia
2024
As the sole obligate symbiotic birds in Africa, oxpeckers offer a unique model for studying symbiotic relationships. Due to the multitrophic level they occupy and the context dependent foraging behavior...
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Genetic benefits of female from extra-pair paternity are context dependent within the socially monogamous Tree Sparrow
2024
Females actively seek extra-pair paternity (EPP) to acquire a fitness advantage for their offspring. The “context-dependence hypothesis” posits that female extra-pair mate choice has plasticity in response...
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The intensity of supplementary feeding in an urban environment impacts overwintering Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) as wintering conditions get harsher
2024
Although urbanization poses various threats to avifauna, some bird species, including Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), choose towns and cities as their wintering habitats, possibly due to favourable temperatures...
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Exploring the interplay of T cell receptor-V gene copy numbers and major histocompatibility complex selection pressure in avian species: Insights into immune system evolution and reproductive investment
2024
Birds, a fascinating and diverse group occupying various habitats worldwide, exhibit a wide range of life-history traits, reproductive methods, and migratory behaviors, all of which influence their...
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Bird species (Charadriiformes) does not impact endosymbiotic bacteria (Gammaproteobacteria) of their ectoparasites (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Ischnocera)
2024
Endosymbiotic bacteria of insects can facilitate host expansion into novel niches by providing their host with a fitness benefit such as vitamins or amino acids that are otherwise lacking in their hosts'...
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Anthropogenic nesting materials and reproductive performance of Chinese Bulbuls (Pycnonotus sinensis) along the urbanization gradient in Hangzhou, China
2024
Urbanization induced by human activities presents both challenges and adaptive opportunities for wildlife. One notable impact of urban sprawl is the vast amount of waste it produces, which has discernible...
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Avian hippocampus: Recent advances in anatomy and physiological functions
2024
The avian hippocampus, akin to its mammalian counterpart, plays a critical role in cognitive and physiological processes despite notable structural differences. Initially thought to be less developed,...
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Seed dispersal by wintering ducks in a coastal wetland of eastern China
2024
Duck species are important vectors for seed dispersal of many plants, contributing significantly to the regeneration of wetland plant communities. However, research on the temporal changes in diet and...
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Correlates of avian extinction timing around the world since 1500 CE
2024
Avian extinctions have been relatively well documented in modern history, and in the past millennia, more bird species are known to have gone extinct than species in any other vertebrate class. We examined...
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Variation of parental and chick diet in opportunistic insectivorous European Bee-eaters
2024
Insectivorous Palaearctic bird species associated with open habitats rely on high prey abundances, which are currently declining due to habitat loss and intensive agricultural practices. The European...
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Population trend and spatio-temporal distribution of Greater White-fronted (Anser albifrons) and Bean Geese (Anser fabalis) in Korea
2024
Geese have undergone significant changes in their distribution and population size due to human-induced impacts. To improve our understanding of the two main geese populations in East Asia—Greater White-fronted...
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Mitogenomic variation in the Black-throated Tit (Aegithalos concinnus): Conserved structure, concerted evolution of duplicate control regions and multiple distinct evolutionary lineages
2024
The mitochondrial genome is a prominent research topic due to its indispensable role in organisms and its application in many research disciplines. However, few studies have investigated intraspecies...
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