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September 17, 2026Integrative ZoologyOpen Access

Ecology and Brain Size Drive Feeding Innovations in Birds

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Authors

YLYating LIUYJYing JiangJXJiliang Xu

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Overview

Cross-species analysis reveals that larger relative brain size and ecological traits drive feeding innovations in 955 bird species, suggesting cognitive and ecological interactions aid adaptation.

Key Points

  • To assess how relative brain size and ecological factors interact to influence the emergence and types of feeding innovations across diverse bird species.
  • Analyzed behavioral records of feeding innovations, residual brain size, and ecological variables across 955 bird species.
  • Categorized feeding innovations into technical innovations and food type innovations to identify subtype-specific associations.
  • Applied phylogenetic path analysis to evaluate direct and indirect causal pathways connecting brain size, temperature seasonality, migration type, and feeding strategy.
  • Residual brain size correlates positively with overall feeding innovation rates, with peak innovation observed in resident and omnivorous species.
  • Technical and food type innovation rates show distinct association patterns with residual brain size and ecological variables.
  • Phylogenetic path analysis indicates that the influences of residual brain size and temperature seasonality on innovation rates are mediated through migration type and feeding strategy.

Cite This Study

LIU et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aabb69c5f706d05830e52cehttps://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.70182
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