Natural History Wanderings

Bird Guides

Beak shapes in some common urban birds appear to have changed rapidly during the COVID‑19 pandemic, according to a new study.

This suggests that sudden shifts in food availability and human disturbance may have driven short‑term evolutionary responses.

Researchers examined museum specimens and live birds from several city populations in the United States, comparing beak morphology before, during and after the pandemic lockdowns that dramatically altered urban environments.

Read more City bird beaks adapted quickly during COVID-19, research reveals