The red crossbill is a migratory songbird native to Oregon. Researchers at Oregon State University showed that the birds adapt their behaviors and bodies to respond to food shortages.
Oregon State University
The red crossbill, a migratory species of songbird native to Oregon, is able to adapt its body and behavior in response to social information from other birds indicating changes in food supply. That’s according to new research by Jamie Cornelius, an assistant professor in integrative biology at Oregon State University. Cornelius studies how birds adapt to unpredictable and extreme changes in the environment. With climate change driving extreme weather events, she says adaptation will be key to whether some bird species survive or perish in coming years. She joins us to talk about her latest research and ongoing work looking at how birds respond to increasingly unpredictable environments.
Contact “Think Out Loud®”
If you’d like to comment on any of the topics in this show, or suggest a topic of your own, please get in touch with us on Facebook or Twitter, send an email to thinkoutloud@opb.org, or you can leave a voicemail for us at 503-293-1983. The call-in phone number during the noon hour is 888-665-5865.