Chemical signals are omnipresent in sexual communication in the vast majority of living
organisms. The traditional paradigm was that their main purpose in sexual behaviour was to …

Chemosensory speciation is characterized by the evolution of barriers to genetic exchange
that involve chemosensory systems and chemical signals. Here, we review some …

The first comprehensive review of all aspects of the biology of moult, drawing information
from across the literature and in all birds, from penguins to passerines. Feathers are …

Birds are renowned for their exceptional vision and the way that this enables them to survive
and navigate the world in such a unique way. However, it is now recognised that avian …

Procellariiform seabirds wander the world's oceans aided by olfactory abilities rivaling those
of any animal on earth. Over the past 15 years, I have been privileged to study the sensory …

Many organisms use subtle chemical cues not only to find partners and food, but also to
sense the presence of natural enemies and to avoid predation. As we discuss here, an …

Smell is a sensory modality that is rarely considered in birds, but evidence is mounting that
olfaction is an important aspect of avian behaviour and ecology. The uropygial gland …

The ability to recognize close relatives in order to cooperate or to avoid inbreeding is
widespread across all taxa. One accepted mechanism for kin recognition in birds is …

Identification of family members plays a primary role in the evolution of social behaviours
such as nepotism, altruism and mate choice. The process is particularly important for …

Summary 1 Although the ability to detect chemical cues is widespread in many organisms, it
is surprising how little is known about the role of chemical communication in avian life …