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Morphological convergence in conifer-dwelling passerines

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Abstract

We tested for morphological convergence in conifer specialists among 88 passerines belonging to seven different phylogenetic lineages by discriminant factor analysis. We found a parallel trend among the seven lineages in body mass and digital pad morphology, whereas no such trends existed for the feeding and flight apparatus. Compared to the control species, the conifer specialists have smaller body masses and higher digital pads with maximal widths lying more distally within each of the seven lineages. These traits are interpreted as adaptations to dwelling among coniferous needles.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the following curators for kindly providing material: M. Adams, R. van den Elzen, S. Frahnert, M. Güntert, J. Hegelbach, A. Shapoval, F. Steinheimer and R. Winkler. J. Fiebig introduced us to the helpful cherry-laurel method. Anne Thorson and Maiken Winter improved the English.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoological Museum, University Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 190, 8057 , Zurich, Switzerland

    Fränzi Korner-Nievergelt

  2. Forschungsstelle für Ornithologie der Max-Planck Gesellschaft, Vogelwarte Radolfzell, 78315 , Radolfzell, Germany

    B. Leisler

Authors
  1. Fränzi Korner-Nievergelt
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  2. B. Leisler
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Correspondence to Fränzi Korner-Nievergelt.

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Communicated by: F. Bairlein

Appendix

Appendix

Table 4 lists investigated species with the number of investigated specimens, and the description of their habitat with typical tree species and foraging locality

Table 4 Investigated species with the number of investigated specimens, and the description of their habitat with typical tree species and foraging locality. Bold type indicate the needle-dwellers. If not otherwise indicated, information and systematics from:Baker 1997; Clement et al. 1993; Curson 1994; Harrap 1996 and Poole and Gill 1992-2002
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Korner-Nievergelt, F., Leisler, B. Morphological convergence in conifer-dwelling passerines. J Ornithol 145, 245–255 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-004-0027-8

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