Study Identifies Key Traits Driving Bird Extinctions Since 1500

Research links island endemism, flightlessness, and ecological specialization to extinction risk, offering insights for conservation efforts.

University of Utah biologists analyzed traits of 216 bird species that have gone extinct since 1500 to understand extinction patterns and timing.
The study found that species endemic to islands, flightless or partially flightless, larger-bodied, and ecologically specialized were at higher risk of extinction.
Hawaiian birds have suffered the greatest losses, with 34 species going extinct, including the entire Mohoidae family of nectar-sipping songbirds.
Unexpectedly, birds with pointed wings, typically associated with strong flight and dispersal, were more likely to go extinct earlier than those with rounder wings.
The findings aim to guide conservation efforts, with 1,314 bird species currently at risk of extinction, representing 12% of all bird species globally.