Paul Dufour
@pauldufour80.bsky.social
Birder | Research Associate at Swiss Ornithological Institute @vogelwarte.bsky.social 🇨🇭
Interested in the evolution of bird movements and how they can influence evolutionary processes
https://pauldufour80.wordpress.com/
Interested in the evolution of bird movements and how they can influence evolutionary processes
https://pauldufour80.wordpress.com/
Pinned
Paul Dufour
@pauldufour80.bsky.social
· Dec 11
For my first post here, I’m happy to share our new paper just published in @ibisjournal.bsky.social Thanks to a great team effort, we made a small step forward in the study of Siberian vagrants in Europe and clarified the status of two (pseudo) vagrants: the YBW & the Sib Chiffchaff. Some results 🧵
Reposted by Paul Dufour
🧵1/5 Excited about our new paper in PRSB! @royalsocietypublishing.org
Can AI make research on avian brood parasitism easier? YES!
We show that AI model can identify conspecific parasitic eggs better than an average ornithologist.
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
📸 Barn swallow – our study species.
Can AI make research on avian brood parasitism easier? YES!
We show that AI model can identify conspecific parasitic eggs better than an average ornithologist.
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
📸 Barn swallow – our study species.
November 26, 2025 at 6:05 PM
🧵1/5 Excited about our new paper in PRSB! @royalsocietypublishing.org
Can AI make research on avian brood parasitism easier? YES!
We show that AI model can identify conspecific parasitic eggs better than an average ornithologist.
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
📸 Barn swallow – our study species.
Can AI make research on avian brood parasitism easier? YES!
We show that AI model can identify conspecific parasitic eggs better than an average ornithologist.
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
📸 Barn swallow – our study species.
Reposted by Paul Dufour
An exciting morning on Masirah Island when this odd looking pipit landed in front of me and gave an odd call. A great Wise Birding team effort to secure everything needed to confirm id as Oman’s 1st Paddyfield Pipit. Big thanks to Magnus Robb for confirming sound recording. #Birds #Oman #WiseBirding
November 26, 2025 at 6:55 PM
An exciting morning on Masirah Island when this odd looking pipit landed in front of me and gave an odd call. A great Wise Birding team effort to secure everything needed to confirm id as Oman’s 1st Paddyfield Pipit. Big thanks to Magnus Robb for confirming sound recording. #Birds #Oman #WiseBirding
Reposted by Paul Dufour
Genetic confirmation of an “uncommon mourningthroat” (Geothlypis philadelphia × G. trichas): A rare but persistent hybrid warbler | www.tandfonline.com/... | Wilson Journal of Ornithology | #ornithology 🪶
November 26, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Genetic confirmation of an “uncommon mourningthroat” (Geothlypis philadelphia × G. trichas): A rare but persistent hybrid warbler | www.tandfonline.com/... | Wilson Journal of Ornithology | #ornithology 🪶
Reposted by Paul Dufour
Our new paper is out today in Journal of the Royal Society Interface (link below). All about eggshell roughness: "Scratching beyond the surface: examining macroecological patterns in avian eggshell texture". Congrats first author Marie Attard, and thank you @leverhulme.ac.uk for the funding.
November 26, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Our new paper is out today in Journal of the Royal Society Interface (link below). All about eggshell roughness: "Scratching beyond the surface: examining macroecological patterns in avian eggshell texture". Congrats first author Marie Attard, and thank you @leverhulme.ac.uk for the funding.
Reposted by Paul Dufour
GREAT NEWS in #conservation: the government of New Zealand has announced that they will include feral cats in their PredatorFree 2050 strategy, aiming to benefit #seabirds and landbirds across NZ by removing feral cats:
Feral cats to be added to Predator Free 2050
The Government is delivering on its campaign promise to add feral cats to the Predator Free 2050 target species list to protect our precious native wildlife, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says.
buff.ly
November 25, 2025 at 7:24 AM
GREAT NEWS in #conservation: the government of New Zealand has announced that they will include feral cats in their PredatorFree 2050 strategy, aiming to benefit #seabirds and landbirds across NZ by removing feral cats:
Reposted by Paul Dufour
Even consummate migrants like Corncrakes can end up being ship-assisted, although presumably being adopted by a family and fed prawns is a rarer occurrence.... #UKBirding #Ornithology
www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/2563328...
www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/2563328...
November 22, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Even consummate migrants like Corncrakes can end up being ship-assisted, although presumably being adopted by a family and fed prawns is a rarer occurrence.... #UKBirding #Ornithology
www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/2563328...
www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/2563328...
Reposted by Paul Dufour
Just out in Systematic Biology, we explore the role of gene flow in island phylogeography of the Solomons Black-and-white Monarch complex. doi.org/10.1093/sysb...
Up first, strong genetic structure between islands groups and weak (but present!) structure between Pleistocene-connected islands (🧵)
Up first, strong genetic structure between islands groups and weak (but present!) structure between Pleistocene-connected islands (🧵)
November 21, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Just out in Systematic Biology, we explore the role of gene flow in island phylogeography of the Solomons Black-and-white Monarch complex. doi.org/10.1093/sysb...
Up first, strong genetic structure between islands groups and weak (but present!) structure between Pleistocene-connected islands (🧵)
Up first, strong genetic structure between islands groups and weak (but present!) structure between Pleistocene-connected islands (🧵)
Reposted by Paul Dufour
Earlier today, I was notified that someone was at my door.
This is who it was:
This is who it was:
November 21, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Earlier today, I was notified that someone was at my door.
This is who it was:
This is who it was:
We visited plaine de Crau (S France) to catch Richard’s pipits last week and sample feathers for isotope tests. Numbers were low (~10), though more birds usually stop here at this time of year (up to 30/40) before they move south. Unclear if birds left early or had a poor breeding year.. #birds
November 20, 2025 at 2:02 PM
We visited plaine de Crau (S France) to catch Richard’s pipits last week and sample feathers for isotope tests. Numbers were low (~10), though more birds usually stop here at this time of year (up to 30/40) before they move south. Unclear if birds left early or had a poor breeding year.. #birds
Reposted by Paul Dufour
On the train back home, still buzzing from some great days at @vogelwarte.bsky.social where Hans Schmid wrote "Getrennte Wege" - a classic synthesis of Honey Buzzard migration. A quarter century later the species has revealed a few more, but still not all of its migratory "Geheimnisse". #ornithology
November 20, 2025 at 12:36 PM
On the train back home, still buzzing from some great days at @vogelwarte.bsky.social where Hans Schmid wrote "Getrennte Wege" - a classic synthesis of Honey Buzzard migration. A quarter century later the species has revealed a few more, but still not all of its migratory "Geheimnisse". #ornithology
Reposted by Paul Dufour
I’ve released a tool to sketch and edit phylogenetic trees!
yawak.jp/PhyloWeaver/
Load a Newick file and intuitively add/remove/resize branches.
Useful for quick conceptual trees, extracting subtrees, or turning ideas into Newick.
yawak.jp/PhyloWeaver/
Load a Newick file and intuitively add/remove/resize branches.
Useful for quick conceptual trees, extracting subtrees, or turning ideas into Newick.
PhyloWeaver – Interactive phylogenetic tree editor
Edit and visualize phylogenetic trees directly in your browser. PhyloWeaver lets you interactively rearrange tree topologies and export high-quality figures for publications and presentations.
yawak.jp
November 18, 2025 at 1:59 AM
I’ve released a tool to sketch and edit phylogenetic trees!
yawak.jp/PhyloWeaver/
Load a Newick file and intuitively add/remove/resize branches.
Useful for quick conceptual trees, extracting subtrees, or turning ideas into Newick.
yawak.jp/PhyloWeaver/
Load a Newick file and intuitively add/remove/resize branches.
Useful for quick conceptual trees, extracting subtrees, or turning ideas into Newick.
Reposted by Paul Dufour
This Swallow at Balranald, N Uist this afternoon appears to be the American subspecies: erythrogaster due to the lack of a dark band across the lower throat.
November 17, 2025 at 7:10 PM
This Swallow at Balranald, N Uist this afternoon appears to be the American subspecies: erythrogaster due to the lack of a dark band across the lower throat.
Reposted by Paul Dufour
This is such a cool study. A parasitic ant queen tricks worker ants into murdering their own queen, so the parasite can take over the colony.
This parasitic ant tricks workers into committing matricide
Newly mated parasitic queen ants invade colonies and spray their victims with a chemical irritant that provokes the workers to kill their mother.
www.sciencenews.org
November 17, 2025 at 5:43 PM
This is such a cool study. A parasitic ant queen tricks worker ants into murdering their own queen, so the parasite can take over the colony.
Reposted by Paul Dufour
Going to be a big month for warbler science! First out of the gates is @lannhiphung.bsky.social, with song & genomics of Nashville warblers. Eastern and western subspecies: non-overlapping and super distinct. Keep an eye on your life list 😉
🦉🧪@journal-evo.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
🦉🧪@journal-evo.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
November 17, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Going to be a big month for warbler science! First out of the gates is @lannhiphung.bsky.social, with song & genomics of Nashville warblers. Eastern and western subspecies: non-overlapping and super distinct. Keep an eye on your life list 😉
🦉🧪@journal-evo.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
🦉🧪@journal-evo.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
Reposted by Paul Dufour
After a month of research in #Porcupinebank on board #VizcondedeEza in the wild waters west of #Ireland, we're finally at home! The most amazing #seabird sighting was a South Polar skua! @rspb.bsky.social @irishbirds.bsky.social @ieo-cadiz.bsky.social Ireland waters are always a box of surprises!
October 31, 2025 at 8:27 PM
After a month of research in #Porcupinebank on board #VizcondedeEza in the wild waters west of #Ireland, we're finally at home! The most amazing #seabird sighting was a South Polar skua! @rspb.bsky.social @irishbirds.bsky.social @ieo-cadiz.bsky.social Ireland waters are always a box of surprises!
Our last paper describes the spring-accelerated loop-migration of the Woodchat Shrike, tracked with light- and multi-sensor geolocators link.springer.com/article/10.1... #ornithology
November 13, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Our last paper describes the spring-accelerated loop-migration of the Woodchat Shrike, tracked with light- and multi-sensor geolocators link.springer.com/article/10.1... #ornithology
Nice paper by @paulcuchot.bsky.social!
🐣 Excited to share our new paper in @globalchangebio.bsky.social !
Using @euring.bsky.social ringing data, we investigated “Phenological plasticity and its temperature-related drivers in common songbirds across Europe.” #Ornithology
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Using @euring.bsky.social ringing data, we investigated “Phenological plasticity and its temperature-related drivers in common songbirds across Europe.” #Ornithology
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
November 13, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Nice paper by @paulcuchot.bsky.social!
Reposted by Paul Dufour
The date is set for the next EOU Fledglings Meeting 🐥 in Gdansk, Poland! Share the news with your peers! 🦆
November 9, 2025 at 6:56 PM
The date is set for the next EOU Fledglings Meeting 🐥 in Gdansk, Poland! Share the news with your peers! 🦆
Reposted by Paul Dufour
Male Varied Thrush in a southern Vancouver Island forest today. I’ve ringed 10 first-years over the last two weeks here, but this was my first adult! 🪶
November 9, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Male Varied Thrush in a southern Vancouver Island forest today. I’ve ringed 10 first-years over the last two weeks here, but this was my first adult! 🪶
Reposted by Paul Dufour
Our paper on tinamou evolution is finally out in @systbiol.bsky.social. academic.oup.com/sysbio/advan...
November 9, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Our paper on tinamou evolution is finally out in @systbiol.bsky.social. academic.oup.com/sysbio/advan...
Reposted by Paul Dufour
Granger et al. Multispecies sensory networks and social foraging strategies: Implications for population decline in procellariiform seabirds www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... #ornithology #seabirds
Multispecies sensory networks and social foraging strategies: Implications for population decline in procellariiform seabirds | PNAS
Multispecies sensory networks, where different species prioritize different sensory
modalities and then use heterospecific information in a likely ...
www.pnas.org
November 7, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Granger et al. Multispecies sensory networks and social foraging strategies: Implications for population decline in procellariiform seabirds www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... #ornithology #seabirds
Reposted by Paul Dufour
New paper out about elevational shifts in European birds lead by @josephinecouet.bsky.social: "Solar Radiation Affects Bird Distributions but Not Elevational Shifts in European Mountains"
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@emmamarjakangas.bsky.social @andreasantangeli.bsky.social @ebcc.info
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@emmamarjakangas.bsky.social @andreasantangeli.bsky.social @ebcc.info
November 4, 2025 at 8:37 AM
New paper out about elevational shifts in European birds lead by @josephinecouet.bsky.social: "Solar Radiation Affects Bird Distributions but Not Elevational Shifts in European Mountains"
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@emmamarjakangas.bsky.social @andreasantangeli.bsky.social @ebcc.info
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@emmamarjakangas.bsky.social @andreasantangeli.bsky.social @ebcc.info
Reposted by Paul Dufour
I am recruting a #postdoc for a project investigating the evolution of avian heat tolerance in @erc.europa.eu project #HotLife. Fieldwork over broad latitudinal gradients, common-garden experiments, and more. Read more and apply👇
shorturl.at/WA1Qa
Would appreciate a re-post!
@evoldir.bsky.social
shorturl.at/WA1Qa
Would appreciate a re-post!
@evoldir.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 8:38 AM
I am recruting a #postdoc for a project investigating the evolution of avian heat tolerance in @erc.europa.eu project #HotLife. Fieldwork over broad latitudinal gradients, common-garden experiments, and more. Read more and apply👇
shorturl.at/WA1Qa
Would appreciate a re-post!
@evoldir.bsky.social
shorturl.at/WA1Qa
Would appreciate a re-post!
@evoldir.bsky.social
Reposted by Paul Dufour
Our latest issue is out!
www.cell.com/current-biol...
On the cover, a male Victoria's riflebird doing his best to dazzle a female (or screaming at the white blob?)
Paper & dispatch here👇
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
On the cover, a male Victoria's riflebird doing his best to dazzle a female (or screaming at the white blob?)
Paper & dispatch here👇
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
November 4, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Our latest issue is out!
www.cell.com/current-biol...
On the cover, a male Victoria's riflebird doing his best to dazzle a female (or screaming at the white blob?)
Paper & dispatch here👇
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
On the cover, a male Victoria's riflebird doing his best to dazzle a female (or screaming at the white blob?)
Paper & dispatch here👇
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
Reposted by Paul Dufour
Our new @science.org paper is out! Cuckoos and hosts are locked in a coevolutionary arms race over egg mimicry.
But how are these egg types inherited, and could this drive speciation? We sequenced hundreds of genomes to find out!
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
🧵1/6
But how are these egg types inherited, and could this drive speciation? We sequenced hundreds of genomes to find out!
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
🧵1/6
Genomic architecture of egg mimicry and its consequences for speciation in parasitic cuckoos
Host-parasite arms races facilitate rapid evolution and can fuel speciation. Cuculus cuckoos are deceptive egg mimics that exhibit a broad diversity of counterfeit egg phenotypes, representing host-ad...
doi.org
October 30, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Our new @science.org paper is out! Cuckoos and hosts are locked in a coevolutionary arms race over egg mimicry.
But how are these egg types inherited, and could this drive speciation? We sequenced hundreds of genomes to find out!
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
🧵1/6
But how are these egg types inherited, and could this drive speciation? We sequenced hundreds of genomes to find out!
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
🧵1/6