Before embarking on a migratory flight, birds often exhibit extreme changes in their feeding behaviour and gut physiology, such as increased feeding, digestive organ remodelling, and shifts in diet. Many passerine species switch from insects to fruits during autumn migration,…
fusanilab
Behaviour, Physiology & Ornithology
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Victoria’s riflebirds ‘mesmerize’ potential mates with accelerating dances
Females observe the display of male Victoria’s riflebirds very closely
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Migratory passerines cope well with mild weather variability
Moderate weather conditions are not stressful for fit birds. Photo by Julia Slezacek
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Super-fast breakdown or testosterone regulate male phenotypes in ruffs
© MPI for Biological Intelligence / Axel Griesch
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Energy savings of formation flight in a migratory bird
Photo by Johannes Fritz
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Evidence of “sneaky” males in a bird of paradise?
A magnificent bird of paradise from New Guinea. Photo by Dustin Chen.
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When less is more
Coy display behaviours and the temporal dynamics of animal courtship
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How do tropical birds cope with global warming?
A common potoo (Nyctibius griseus) remains lethargic throughout the hottest hours of the day
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Modelling bird formations using fuzzy logic
Fuzzy logic helps to model upwashes and detect in-wake flying
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Hybrid manakins do hybrid courtship
Beyond plumage: courtship may have a role in speciation
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Sneaky copulations by ‘apprentices’ bowerbirds
Unknown aspects of bowerbird courtship revealed
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The importance of synchronization in courtship
The timing of vocal and visual components may influence attractiveness of multimodal signals
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Sweet sap, savory ants
Woodpeckers taste sweet, but wrynecks lost the ability to taste sugars. Photo: © Charles Thomas (Macaulay Library ML180000101)
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Flight efficiency in Northern Bald Ibises
Intermittent flight reduces the high costs of flying
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Androgen response to simulated intruder in a territorial poison frog
Hormonal response to territorial intrusions. Photo by Andrius Pašukonis
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Learned components of courtship
A focus on postural displays, choreographies and construction abilities
About our lab
Our lab is based at the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology of the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, and at the Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna. The lab was created thanks to a special grant of…
Research
We study several aspects of avian biology, from migration physiology to sexual selection, both in the laboratory and in the field. A unifying feature of our research is the broad approach that includes both proximate and ultimate questions. Besides long-term…
Join us
We are accepting applications for internships, Bachelor, and Master dissertations. When available, job openings for specific projects are listed below this text, in the Blog page, and at the bottom of this page in the category ‘Jobs’. If you are…
News
How fish reveal the link between stress and problem-solving
Using a social cichlid, we demonstrate a potential link between stress recovery and behavioural flexibility, with important implications for adaptation to changing environments.
Job Opening – 4 y Post-Doc – DEADLINE EXTENDED to May 1st!
Computational Biology / Behavioral Analysis We are seeking a candidate with experience in applying modern computational tools for the study of complex biological patterns. We have acquired instruments to record courtship behaviour of birds in both natural and laboratory settings….
Super-fast breakdown or testosterone regulate male phenotypes in ruffs
© MPI for Biological Intelligence / Axel Griesch
Cover Image for Ethology – Jan 2023
Our paper Sneaky copulations by ‘apprentices’ bowerbirds made the cover of the journal’s issue of January 2022. Nice to see our work portraited!
Article on reduction of migratory behaviour in Der Standard
If you can read German, have a look at the most recent interview released by Wolfgang Vogl on the disappearence of migratory behaviour in many species of migratory birds that remain in Europe in winter because of climate change. https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000141778277/immer-mehr-zugvoegel-canceln-ihren-abflug-in-den-sueden?ref=article
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