Innovations in nest design are thought to be one potential factor in the evolutionary success
of passerine birds (order: Passeriformes), which colonized new ecological niches as they …

Many animals build structures that are used for shelter, reproduction or to capture prey. The
type of material used to build these structures is likely to influence their solidity …

Red carotenoid colours in birds are widely assumed to be sexually selected quality
indicators, but this rests on a very incomplete understanding of genetic mechanisms and …

The pendent nests of some weaverbird and icterid species are among the most complex
structures built by any animal, but why they have evolved remains to be explained. The …

Many tropical environments experience cyclical seasonal changes, frequently with
pronounced wet and dry seasons, leading to a highly uneven temporal distribution of …

We describe a new taxon of terrestrial bird of the genus Aphrastura (rayaditos) inhabiting the
Diego Ramírez Archipelago, the southernmost point of the American continent. This …

Abstract The diverse Old World avian family Ploceidae (weaverbirds) presently comprises
117 species in 17 genera. Despite being a well-known bird group, the family has received …

Abstract The Old World sparrows include some of the best-studied passerine species, such
as the cosmopolitan human commensal, the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) as well as …

When mimicry imposes costs on models, selection may drive the model's phenotype to
evolve away from its mimic. For example, brood parasitism often drives hosts to diversify in …

Estrildid finches (family: Estrildidae) are characterised by great intraspecific and intersexual
variations in sexual traits, which include courtship song, dance and ornamental colourations …