Maniraptor News

I will update this page with news related to maniraptors and link to websites that discuss these finds, the newest updates at the top.

News from past years can be found archived here.

2025
3/26

• Evolutionary decoupling of forelimb reduction and digit loss in oviraptorosaurs
• Craniocervical morphological integration in avians

3/25

• New therizinosaur Duonychus tsogtbaatari
• New avialans Hunucornis huayanen, Palaelodus haroldocontii, and Zqueheanas hebe
• Climate underpins continent-wide patterns of carotenoid-based feather color in Pogoniulus
• Phylogenetic relationships of recently extinct columbiforms
• No evidence for olfactory kin discrimination in begging Cyanistes caeruleus nestlings

3/21

• Elevational constraints on flight efficiency shape global gradients in avian wing morphology

3/20

• Plotopterid skull from the Lincoln Creek Formation
• Inhibiting avian feather development temporarily results in protofeather-like structures
• Common developmental origins of beak and snout shapes in maniraptorans (and other theropods)
• Evolution of avian over- and under-wing head-scratching
• Genomic introgression in Stercorarius

3/19

• Drivers of avian genomic change
• Convergent vocal representations between Melopsittacus undulatus and Homo sapiens forebrain motor networks
• Migratory connectivity and non-breeding habitat segregation in Calonectris
• Individual variation in spatial reference memory influences cache site choice in Petroica longipes

3/18

• Feathers of Gyps fulvus from the Pleistocene of Italy
• Otis tarda from the Pleistocene of Morocco
• Avian burrow subfossils from the Holocene of Chad

3/17

• Evolution of avian cranial kinesis as the result of increased encephalization
• Potential mimicry of lepidopteran larvae by juvenile Florisuga mellivora
• Distribution and dispersal of large haploblocks in Phylloscopus trochiloides

3/15

• New genus Paranothoprocta for "Nothoprocta" cinerascens
• Biological significance of forced extra-pair copulations in Turdus merula

3/14

• Avialan tracks from the Dunvegan Formation
• Comparing avian–plant interaction networks between xerophytic and humid forests in Argentina

3/13

• Species limits in Syma
• Determinants of fledgling sex ratio in Aegolius funereus

3/12

• Acanthiza pusilla use alarm calls and mimicry to deceive predators
• Past distribution and habitats of Strigops habroptila
• Dual neuromodulatory dynamics underlie song learning in Taeniopygia guttata
• Sturnus unicolor eject conspecific parasitic eggs according to egg size
• Landscape heterogeneity and novelty drive oscillatory flight in Columba livia during forebrain Wulst-dependent visual map learning
• A tension-induced morphological transition shapes avian extra-embryonic territory

3/11

• New specimens of Conchoraptor gracilis
• Population dynamics of Aquila fasciata

3/10

• Year-round movement and distribution of Aethia cristatella breeding in the Aleutian Islands

3/9

• Exclusively nocturnal foraging by Creagrus furcatus

3/7

• Demographic drivers of cultural evolution in Parus major song
• High-elevation passeriforms grow more slowly but to heavier weights than low-elevation species
• Breeding season survival and habitat use of Callipepla squamata

3/6

• Review of wing-propelled diving in avians

3/5

• New avialans Australarus bakeri and Miolarus rectirostrum
• New avialan Myzomela babarensis
• Anatomy of Iberomesornis romerali
• Island size shapes genomic diversity in Zosterops
• Bone histology of enantiornitheans from the Xiagou Formation
• Migrating syrphids as potential food source for co-migrating insectivorous avians
• Sedimentary DNA insights into Holocene Pygoscelis adeliae populations and ecology
• Cooperative breeding does not mitigate declines in offspring care with cool and wet conditions in Malurus cyaneus
• Species poverty in the Cyclops Mountains
• Biparental nest-building by Philepitta schlegeli
• Avians from the Pleistocene of Spain
• Taxonomic status of Catharus fumosus

3/4

• Ecophysical constraints on avian adaptation and diversification
• Foraging activity by Menura novaehollandiae "farms" invertebrate prey
• Phylogenetic distribution of tool use in psittaciforms

3/2

• Cranial kinesis of Rhinoplax vigil

2/28

• Hybridization and introgression in Contopus sordidulus and Contopus virens
• Nonrandom distributions of nests in Calidris pugnax

2/27

• Special issue on the avian respiratory system
• Homing navigation is optimized to diurnal constraints in Sula sula rubripes
• Gastornithid tracks from the Chuckanut Formation

2/26

• Altitudinal variation in oxidative status between breeding and non-breeding seasons in Zonotrichia capensis

2/25

• Diversification of Aratinga, Eupsittula, and Psittacara
• Sex-specific variation in breeding-ground departure decisions during southbound migration in West Atlantic Flyway Numenius phaeopus

2/24

• Environmental variability shapes avian life history
• Bone histology of Brontornis burmeisteri and Patagornis marshi
• Repeatable selection on large ancestry blocks in the Catharus ustulatus hybrid zone
• Migration of wintering Pluvialis squatarola from Southeast Asia to north-central Siberia

2/22

• Evolutionary drivers of caching behaviour in corvids

2/21

• Sexual dichromatism increases with altitude in avians with ultraviolet sensitive vision
• Spatial consistency and repeatability of migratory flight routes in Caprimulgus europaeus

2/20

• Innovative problem solving in paleognaths
• Distribution of dominant wavelengths predicts color discrimination performance in Coloeus monedula

2/19

• Partial honesty in female polymorphism of Florisuga mellivora provides evidence for hybrid equilibrium
• Moving as a group constrains energetic efficiency of movement in Acryllium vulturinum
• Morus capensis rely on both social cues and frequently updated memory to search for prey
• Winter foraging strategies of Lanius meridionalis

2/17

• Nest type transitions as key innovations in furnariids
• Correlation between avian palatability and coloration

2/16

• Global marine flyways identified for migratory marine avians

2/14

• Developmental origins and evolution of avian pallial cell types and structures
• Similarities in enhancer-driven cell types between the avian and mammalian pallium
• Review of research on avian olfaction

2/13

• Syntopy promotes song divergence in rhinocryptids
• Adrenal response to competitive singing in male Saltator similis

2/12

• New avialan Baminornis zhenghensis
• Role of biofluorescence in visual signals of paradisaeids

2/11

• Avian foraging traces from the Green River Formation

2/10

• Innovative flavoring behavior in Cacatua goffiniana
• Phylogeny of Asio
• Three-dimensional structure of avian medullary bone
• Genetic characterization of Corvus splendens

2/9

• Variation in corticosterone levels in Vultur gryphus feathers

2/6

• New specimens of Patagorhacos terrificus

2/5

• Skull of Vegavis iaai
• Function of display behavior in Numenius phaeopus
• Selection for tameness alters play-like behavior in Gallus gallus in line with effects of domestication
  
• Pair-bond strength is consistent and related to partner responsiveness in Coloeus monedula
• Population structure of Troglodytes aedon

2/4

• Courtship behavior of Tinamus major
• Ontogeny of the pelvic girdle in Rhea americana
• Evaluating light environment as a contributor to color differences among Phylloscopus

2/3

• Feather evolution in secondarily flightless avians
• Function of distress calls in Cuculus canorus
• Winter diet of Calidris maritima
  

1/31

• Risk assessment during nest defense by female Troglodytes aedon
• Effects of nest locations on foraging behavior and physiological responses in Larus crassirostris

1/30

• Alvarezsaurs from the Allen Formation
  
• Avian olfaction and reproductive isolation
• Synthesized aberrant Cuculus canorus vocalizations disrupt communication but trigger host responses
• Corticosterone predicts double-brooding in female Passerculus sandwichensis
• Vital rates of intermittent nonbreeders and returning breeders strongly influence population dynamics of Somateria mollissima

1/29

• Craniofacial modularity in furnariids
• Volitional spatial attention is lateralized in Corvus corone
• Geographic differences in phenology of gonadal development and molt are genetically based in Parus major
• Morphological criteria for staging near-hatching embryos of Anas platyrhynchos and Anser cygnoides

1/28

• Cooperative and plural breeding in Acryllium vulturinum
• Evidence that flocking behavior in Sturnus vulgaris is rewarded by singing, flock mates, and mu opioid receptors in the nucleus accumbens
  

1/27

• Selective disappearance based on navigational efficiency in Sterna hirundo
  

1/26

• Extreme migratory connectivity and apparent mirroring of non-breeding grounds in Luscinia megarhynchos
  
• Trophic niche partitioning by marine avians off Montague Island

1/24

• Modeling inevitability of dinornithiform extinction under human hunting
• Review of methodological insights into avian olfaction
  

1/23

• New avialan Apus boanoi
• A single gene orchestrates androgen variation underlying male mating morphs in Calidris pugnax
• Avian diversity divide in major global desert realms
• Review of endocrine and molecular regulation of seasonal avian immune function
  

1/22

• Broad geographic dispersal is not a diversification driver for emberizoids
• Migration of Halcyon senegalensis cyanoleuca
• Immune response accelerated telomere shortening in juvenile Cyanistes caeruleus
• Review of avian origins
• Review of vocal communication in corvids
  

1/21

• Diversification of Attila spadiceus
  
• Influence of migration timing and local conditions on reproductive timing in Arctic-breeding charadriiforms
  
• Avian escape behavior under different hunger pressure

1/20

• Weaker avian frugivore–plant trait matching towards the tropics and on islands
• Review of ecological drivers of variation in extent of post-fledging dependence period in accipitrids

1/19

• Ecomorphology of South American Spheniscus

1/17

• New avialan Novavis pubisculata
• Comparative development of the avian syrinx
• Winter survival of Glaucidium passerinum determined by the amount of food in hoards

1/16

• Predicting marine habitat for Brachyramphus marmoratus in the Salish Sea

1/15

• Ectomycorrhizal fungus spores in corpolites of Megalapteryx didinus
• Social associations across species during nocturnal avian migration
• Calypte anna use compensatory eye movements to stabilize rotational and translational visual motion
• Torpor frequency and duration of Selasphorus correlated with lipid reserves
• Hindlimb muscle ontogeny of Aptenodytes forsteri
  

1/14

• Adjustable wind selectivity in Puffinus puffinus implies knowledge of foraging landscape
• Repeated successful nest sharing and cooperation between Tyrannus verticalis and a Tyrannus verticalis × Tyrannus forficatus hybrid

1/13

• Breeding habitat use of Cardellina canadensis

1/12

• Review of hybridization in sternines

1/11

• Predictors of reproductive success in Eudyptula minor

1/10

• Genetic structure of Phalcoboenus australis

1/9

• Drivers of avian settlement of New Zealand
  
• Migration of Ninox leucopsis

1/8

• Phylogenetic position of Starnoenas cyanocephala
• Potential breeding sites of male Calidris pugnax
  

1/7

• New avialans Pseudocrypturus danielsi and Pseudocrypturus gracilipes
• Predator recognition by Lanius collurio

1/6

• Casque structure of Rhinoplax vigil
• Differences in acoustic structure between broadcast and whisper songs of Myadestes obscurus

1/4

• Individual variability in phenology of Eudyptula minor induces consequences on breeding and carry-over effects

1/3

• New specimen of Archaeopteryx
• Drivers of signal evolution in meliphagideans
• Middle ear mechanics of Tyto furcata
• Correlates of beak shape variation in Neotropical passeriforms