There are around 80 bird species named after people upon discovery. Officials are now proposing name changes that will take effect in 2024. Read more here.
If you've ever witnessed a starling tear open a rubbish bag or a grackle steal your dog's food, you'll understand that certain birds have figured out how to take advantage of new eating possibilities, which is a strong indication of their intelligence.
Some North American bird species have not entirely changed their ranges in response to current climate change.
The habitats of these birds have gotten increasingly disconnected from their ideal climatic conditions, while other aspects of the ecosystem have become more restrictive.
This tendency of climate decoupling is especially evident for habitat specialists and decreasing species. These are the findings of research published in Nature Ecology & Evolution by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig University, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), and the Doana Biological Station.
Climate decoupling caused by continuing climate change may put additional strain on many bird species and accelerate population reductions.