Very happy to share our new paper on wagtails evolution now published open access in Society of Systematic Biologists (doi.org/10.1093/sysbio…). Can phylogenetics help us understand plumage evolution in this group? Let's find out! 1/10

Look at the latest amazing result of the #TangaWaders tagging project: the 1st ever track of Lesser Sand Plover in the West Asian East African Flyway, showing an amazing trip from #Tanzania to breeding grounds in #Tibet.

(1/7) EAAF and CAF overlaps in the central China region. There hasn’t been solid definition of the boundaries for each flyway, yet the migratory landbirds in the overlapped region display various distribution patterns during migration season #BOUsci23 #flyway #ornithology #SESH11

(2/8) The central China region where both flyways overlap has been shown having high abundance of migration landbirds. This fact hasn’t drawn much global attention, especially regarding conservation. The locals, however, do know where to catch birds for food or money. #BOUsci23

(3/8) One way to explain to the “busy highway” in central China is the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Migratory divide has been reported in various species, due to the barrier effect from the plateau. The majority of landbirds are not migrating directly across the plateau. #BOUsci23

(4/8) During my PhD, I have been working with the #Siberianrubythroat (Calliope calliope) and the #stonechats (Saxicola maurus/stejnegeri), tracking their annual migration with various micro-tracking devices. #BOUsci23 #flyway #SESH11

(5/8) Both the central-Siberian and central China highland population of #Siberianrubythroat employed detoured migration routes in autumn, which might be a consequence in avoidance of the geographical barriers. #BOUsci23 #flyway #SESH11

(6/8) The #stonechats from the migratory divide exhibit both barrier-avoidance migration routes from western/eastern site, as well direct-route across the plateau, which may be due to hybridization (intermediate route). #BOUsci23 #flyway #SESH11

We fund #ornithology around the world with our small grant and career development bursary schemes, our Warham studentships and our Gibbs awards buff.ly/3sAGhhU #BOUsci23

1/6 #break1 Today I’m presenting part of my PhD research at the #BOU2024! 🐦Join me in the following thread as I’m looking into infectious hotspots and prevalence rates in the urban landscape. #DiseaseEcology #UrbanEcology

Why do some raptors have more than one plumage morph? In a new publication in Ornithology, we outline what is currently known, and the rich research potential provided by plumage polymorphism in this group. doi.org/10.1093/ornith…. American Ornithological Society