Gloger's rule is an ecogeographical rule that links animal colouration with climatic variation.
This rule is named after CWL Gloger who was one of the first to summarise the associations …

The uropygial gland is a holocrine complex exclusive to birds that produces an oleaginous
secretion (preen oil) whose function is still debated. Herein, I examine critically the evidence …

Bird eggs are amazing biological structures. For some, they are religiously revered as
symbols of fertility and birth; for most, they are simply regarded as breakfast. However, eggs …

Much of the growing interest in avian chemical signals has focused on the role of kin
recognition or mate attraction, often with an emphasis on males, with uropygial gland …

Background Parasites exert important selective pressures on host life history traits. In birds,
feathers are inhabited by numerous microorganisms, some of them being able to degrade …

Body feathers ensure both waterproofing and insulation in waterbirds, but how natural
variation in the morphological properties of these appendages relates to environmental …

The uropygial gland (preen gland) of birds plays an important role in maintaining feather
integrity and hygiene. Although a few studies have demonstrated potential defensive roles of …

One of the greatest threats to the survival of avian eggs is the risk of infection by microbes;
as such, a large number of parental defense mechanisms have evolved in response to the …

Allogrooming in primates serves not only a hygienic function, but also plays a crucial role in
maintaining strong affiliative bonds between group members, which in turn, underpin the …

Feathers are dead integumentary structures that are prone to damage and thus show
gradual degradation over the course of a year. This loss of quality might have negative …