My lab is focused on studying patterns and correlates of phenotypic and taxic diversification in passerine birds (Aves: Passeriformes). The Passeriformes, also known as “perching birds,” are the single largest order of birds, comprising over 50% of all avian species diversity. Based on net diversification rate, one subset of passerines—the oscines or “songbirds”—has been identified as the largest radiation of birds. In addition to species richness, this group exhibits a wide array of trophic specializations (e.g., insectivory, carnivory, nectarivory, granivory, folivory), social behaviors (e.g., coloniality, pair territoriality, group territoriality, cooperative breeding), and mating systems (e.g., social—sometimes even genetic—monogamy, polygyny, promiscuity, lekking), making passerine species the subject of voluminous, intensive, long-term research.

Mount Shasta Mount Shasta, Siskiyou County, CA

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