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 …

This article is part of a Special Issue “Chemosignals and Reproduction”. Chemical cues
were probably the first cues ever used to communicate and are still ubiquitous among living …

Summary 1 Although the ability to detect chemical cues is widespread in many organisms, it
is surprising how little is known about the role of chemical communication in avian life …

Among vertebrates, the sense of smell is mediated by olfactory receptors (ORs) expressed in
sensory neurons within the olfactory epithelium. Comparative genomic studies suggest that …

BIRDS EмIт мANҮ chemical compounds, though ornithologists rarely consider them. Avian
odors, for example, are readily detectable to humans in at least 17 avian orders and 80 …

Although a growing body of evidence supports that olfaction based on chemical compounds
emitted by birds may play a role in individual recognition, the possible role of chemical cues …

The relative size of olfactory bulbs (OBs) is correlated with olfactory capabilities across
vertebrates and is widely used to assess the relative importance of olfaction to a species' …

In the natural environment, animals can face potentially dangerous and often regular
exposure to major environmental fluctuations such as flash flooding and drought, or the …

Until the second half of the 20th century, it was broadly accepted that most birds are
microsmatic if not anosmic and unable to detect and use olfactory information. Exceptions …

During the past 2 decades, considerable progress has been made in the study of bird
semiochemistry, and our goal was to review and evaluate this literature with particular …