Birds
Bird droppings defy expectations
Prevailing wisdom ranks uric acid as the primary ingredient in bird excrement which is comprised mostly of urine. (Birds release both solid and liquid waste at the same time. The white substance is the urine). But according to new research, uric acid can't be the answer. That's because there is no uric acid in excreted bird urine.
Read moreCoastal birds can weather the storm, but not the sea
Coastal birds survive because their populations can absorb impacts and recover quickly from hurricanes — even storms many times larger than anything previously observed.
Read moreGenetically tailored instruction improves songbird learning
A new study conducted in songbirds demonstrates that what at first appear to be genetic constraints on birds' song learning abilities could be largely eliminated by tailoring instruction to better match the birds' inborn predispositions.
Read moreOne of world's oldest bird species found in Waipara, New Zealand
The ancestor of some of the largest flying birds ever has been found in Waipara, New Zealand.
Read moreMarch of the multiple penguin genomes
A new article presents 19 high-coverage penguin genome sequences. Adding this to the two previously published penguin genomes, there are now genome sequences available for all living penguin species. Here, the Penguin Genome Consortium, made up of researchers from 10 countries, has produced an unparalleled amount of information that covers an entire biological order. Research from evolution, the impact of human activities impact, and environmental changes, will benefit from this work.
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