Aim Pheomelanin is a pigment responsible for yellowish‐to‐reddish colours of vertebrate
teguments. Its biosynthesis is favoured under high concentration of intracellular thiols …

The Western Palearctic is one of the most investigated regions for avian haemosporidian
parasites (Haemoproteus, Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon), yet geographic gaps in our …

Abstract The Brown-capped Rosy-Finch is an endangered high alpine specialist that breeds
on cliffs in the Rocky Mountains of North America. We know little about the parasites that …

Introduction Parasites play important roles in ecosystems. Through their interactions with
host and vector species, they are capable of changing the behavior and population …

Nest-dwelling ectoparasites are a major source of stress for growing nestling birds, as they
can negatively impact on growth and physiology, with consequences on pre-fledging …

Simple Summary Feathers are essential for a bird's flight, insulation, communication, and
camouflage. They degrade over time, so birds must moult regularly. This study examined …

In the last decade, house sparrow populations have shown a general decline, especially in
cities. Avian malaria has been recently suggested as one of the potential causes of this …

Human induced changes on landscape can alter the biotic and abiotic factors that influence
the transmission of vector-borne parasites. To examine how infection rates of vector …

Swifts (Apodidae) are an unusual group of birds that spend most of their lives in flight,
landing only when breeding. Although this aerial lifestyle greatly reduces their likelihood of …

Sexual selection theory maintains that traits under selection honestly advertise qualities of
signaling individuals and that only individuals in the best condition can survive while …