Female Finches 'Pick' Sex of Chicks

Toucans control blood flow to outsized bill to raise or lower body temperature

(NEWSER) - New research reveals an unexpected use for the toucan’s outsized bill, Wired reports. Thermal imaging shows that the bird can regulate its body temperature by increasing or restricting blood flow to its beak. “Bird bills are not ‘dead tissues’ incapable of playing a role in heat balance,” a researcher says. “Birds do not sweat, so must cope with other mechanisms to deal with elevated temperatures.” More»

Isolated finches develop the same song over time

(NEWSER) - DNA may carry the blueprint for culture, a study of zebra finches has revealed. When raised in isolation, the birds' complex mating song—usually taught by male elders—develops into a harsh clamor. But as their offspring learn the song, they tweak it slightly and recreate the melody within a few generations. "The culture was pretty much encoded," said the study's co-author. More»

(NEWSER) - Yes, it's an actual study: Parrots can dance. Really and truly dance. A painstaking review of lab video—and YouTube—revealed that the birds have rhythm, the Boston Globe reports. Frame-by-frame analysis of birds’ motion to music shows that they bob and weave in perfect sync to a beat, a new study shows. Scientists believe the bird’s mojo might be related to its talent for mimicry, which humans share. More»

Scientists credit luck for natural wonder's 'spectacular' healing

(NEWSER) - Parts of the Great Barrier Reef bleached by warming waters 3 years ago have made a speedy recovery because of a few lucky breaks, the Guardian reports. Reefs typically take at least a decade to overcome human-created crises, but a combination of biological factors helped the reef's speedy healing, Australian scientists conclude in a new study. More»

(NEWSER) - Researchers have tracked the migratory paths of songbirds for the first time, using small data-gathering “backpacks,” the Washington Post reports. The avian wanderers, who are so small they cannot be tagged with transmitters, move about 3 times as a fast as previously thought. The recovered data shows that birds traveling between the US and Brazil can make up to 311 miles in a day. They're usually faster heading south, possibly in a race to get the best breeding spots. More»