Mallard. Credit: Patrick McDonald/Audubon Photography Awards
A recent study conducted by various Audubon scientists underscores the importance of enhancing the identification and observation of female birds to aid in the conservation of avian species and their habitats.
Published in the journal *Ibis*, the research highlights the inaccuracies that arise when female birds are overlooked in favor of their more visually striking male counterparts. The authors put forth strategies to improve data collection in this area. “Historically, the field of ecology has misunderstood or neglected female organisms, often assuming they are sufficiently similar to males,” stated Brooke Bateman, senior director of climate and community science at the National Audubon Society and a co-author of the study. “This oversight can lead to significant gaps in our scientific understanding.”
The findings challenge traditional notions by revealing that reproductive responsibilities are more evenly distributed between genders than previously thought. For instance, in many species, both males and females participate in raising offspring. Additionally, females are known to produce birdsong, countering the long-held belief that only males sing for mating purposes. Furthermore, behaviors typically associated with females, such as social dominance or aggression, are often underreported due to sociobiological biases.
“There is an immense amount of knowledge about birds and ecology that we miss when we concentrate solely on males or presume that females are merely reflections of males,” remarked Joanna Wu, Ph.D. candidate at UCLA and the lead author of the study. “This is why it’s crucial to promote sex-specific inquiries in research.”
While survival rates are typically analyzed at the species level, it is essential to note that female birds often exhibit lower survival rates than their male counterparts. This distinction is particularly significant for species facing population declines attributed to a shortage of females. Moreover, female birds may have different migration patterns, which is increasingly vital in the context of climate change, as shifting temperatures could disrupt synchrony in arrival times at breeding sites.
In some species, females do not occupy the same habitats as males. For example, female golden-winged warblers tend to inhabit lower elevations than males during the non-breeding season, and they have experienced a greater loss of habitat due to logging activities. Comprehensive research can better inform conservation strategies.
Additionally, the study notes the existence of same-sex and multi-sex mating systems in birds, indicating that relying solely on a male-female binary in data collection excludes a wider array of reproductive behaviors.
The inception of this study stemmed from the collaboration of a group of birdwatchers, scientists, and ornithologists who aimed to promote the identification of female birds through the Galbatross Project, which established Female Bird Day to foster greater observation and appreciation of female avian species.
The authors recommend enhancing educational resources for identifying female birds, focusing on capturing data during migration seasons rather than breeding seasons to increase the chances of observing females, and implementing options for recording sex-segregated data in platforms like eBird, which are widely used by ornithological institutions.
