Evolution of tooth number and size reveals random evolution and weak directional selection of dentition toward independent tooth loss in Mesozoic birds
December 2026
How their toothed jaws evolve into edentulous beaks remains a key puzzle in early birds. Although some studies using discrete data of dentition have rejected the hypotheses of long-term directional...
Automated bird sound recognition in ecology: A methodological review and application framework
September 2026
Automated bird sound recognition (ABSR) has emerged as a transformative tool for avian ecology and conservation, offering an unprecedented ability to monitor biodiversity non-invasively across vast...
Trapped in the cradle: Karst formation isolates an ancient lineage of wren-babbler (Gypsophila) leading to cryptic speciation
December 2026
Cryptic speciation from landscape fragmentation presents a major challenge for biodiversity inventories in the geologically complex karst regions of Southwest China. Despite recent discoveries of hidden...
Rainfall-driven movements and seasonal space use in Greater and Lesser Flamingos in western India
December 2026
The arid plains of western India support significant populations of the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) and the Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor). “Flamingo City”, a seasonally flooded...
Migratory birds as global pathogen vectors: Ecological roles, transmission pathways, and emerging zoonotic risks
September 2026
Migratory birds have emerged as primary vectors of infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria, vector-borne pathogens, and fungal pathogens, posing a considerable and geographically unrestricted...
Scale-dependent landscape effects on soundscape: A case study in Guangzhou, China
December 2026
As a key acoustic indicator of ecosystem health and human well-being, acoustic indices have attracted growing interdisciplinary attention from the fields of ecology, urban planning and conservation...
Temporal dynamics of bird species-habitat networks on forested islands
December 2026
Habitat fragmentation reshapes species spatial distributions and community dynamics. Species and their occupied habitats form associations that can be quantified as bipartite networks to reveal how...
Toxicological impacts of persistent organic pollutants on avian physiology: A scientometric and systematic analysis
September 2026
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), primarily from industrial and agricultural sources, pose significant risks to birds due to their environmental pervasiveness, bioaccumulation, and toxicological...
Negative effects of artificial nest boxes on birds: A review
2023
Artificial nest boxes are placed to attract birds to nest and breed in a specific location, and they are widely used in avian ecology research and in the attraction of insectivorous birds. There is...
Changes in avian communities following wildfires in Mediterranean pine forest: A passive acoustic monitoring approach across temporal and seasonal gradients
December 2026
Wildfires are major modifiers of Mediterranean forest ecosystems, with long-term impacts on biodiversity and ecological resilience. However, how fire-history contrasts and seasonal dynamics jointly...
Increasing population size may help threatened species with limited genetic diversity escape the extinction vortex
December 2026
A review of eDNA technology in avian monitoring: Current status, challenges and future perspectives
June 2025
In recent years, environmental DNA (eDNA) has garnered significant attention as a novel tool in biodiversity monitoring, recognized for its efficiency, convenience, and non-invasiveness. Despite its...
Global change and threats to waterbirds in the Asian flyways
Available online 23 July 2026
Avian migration represents one of nature’s most spectacular phenomena, providing critical ecological services and acting as an indicator of environmental change. Flyways are geographical ranges through...
Migratory birds as global vectors and evolutionary incubators of antibiotic resistance genes
September 2026
The global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis, fueled by the cross-border dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), poses a critical and escalating threat to public health. Migratory birds,...
Beyond habitat loss: Spatiotemporal heterogeneity in mediating the effects of urban heat islands on waterbird richness
December 2026
Urbanization alters avian communities through habitat modification, yet the mechanisms by which urban-induced microclimatic changes influence bird diversity remain poorly understood. In particular,...
Seasonal effects of urban park landscape structure on taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of birds
December 2026
Urban parks serve as important biodiversity refuges in highly urbanized landscapes, yet the landscape mechanisms shaping seasonal dynamics of multidimensional avian diversity remain poorly understood....
Migration pattern of a population of Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) breeding in East Asian tropical region
2024
Birds exhibit a high degree of migratory diversity, which is influenced by various ecological factors and life history strategies. Conducting studies on tropical bird migration, of which research is...
Avian acoustic communication: Understanding of peripheral and central neural systems with ecological adaptations
June 2025
Avian vocal communication represents one of the most intricate forms of animal language, playing a critical role in behavioral interactions. Both peripheral and central auditory-vocal pathways are essential...
LiBird: A new universal primer enhancing avian environmental DNA metabarcoding
June 2026
In recent years, global avian diversity has been in continuous decline. Traditional monitoring methods are often constrained by detectability limitations and observational challenges, which makes it...
Landscape and habitat effects on functional and phylogenetic diversity and structure of bird communities in fragmented habitats within an urban landscape, Southwest China
June 2026
Understanding how landscape and habitat characteristics shape species diversity and community structure in fragmented habitats offers insights into the impact of fragmentation on biodiversity. However,...
Behavioral innovation correlates with broader climatic niche breadths in birds
September 2026
Behavioral innovation, defined as the ability to exhibit novel behaviors that may contribute to problem-solving and adaptability, has been increasingly recognized as a key factor in species’ resilience...
Nest defense is associated with footedness in female Japanese Tits
December 2026
Nest defense is an essential behavior in birds that protects nests from predation. Defensive behavior often varies among individuals, yet how hemispheric lateralization, a phenomenon commonly existing...
Associations between diet and the gut microbiome in brood-parasitic nestlings: Common Cuckoos reared by three host species
December 2026
The gut microbiome is crucial for growth, nutrient acquisition, and health. Multiple factors shape its composition and function, and diet is consistently identified as a key environmental driver. Obligate...
Spatial pattern and conservation challenges of migratory waterbirds in Asian flyways
March 2026
Migratory birds undertake regular seasonal movements between breeding and non-breeding grounds each year, often spanning intercontinental distances. Several migratory waterbirds are declining globally,...
Migratory birds at the intersection of ecology and public health: Disseminating critical antimicrobial resistance genes across the globe
January 2027
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global health threat, and migratory birds have emerged as unexpected yet key players in its ecology and dissemination. Acting as both reservoirs and long-distance...