1. Of the approximately 9200 species of birds, only about 290 are marine species although land only covers about 29% of the globe

2. Palearctic region Largest East-west mountain ranges Diverse in climates and habitat although much of the region is very cold

3. Birds of Palearctic 1026 species Birds may have evolved in this region Most birds are migrants and insectivorous One endemic family, Prunellidae

4. Shared species 12.5% with Nearctic 15% with Ethiopian 22% with Oriental

5. Palearctic and Nearctic form Holarctic region Loons, auks, grouse found only in these two regions

6. Nearctic region Also cold North-south mountains

7. Birds of Nearctic 740 species Most birds are migrants and insectivorous Many wood-warblers and blackbirds No endemic families although Meleagrididae (wild turkey) is close to being endemic

8. Origins of Nearctic birds Some are unknown—wrens, warblers, vireos, sparrows Some from Palearctic by way of the Bering Strait—pigeons, owls, thrushes Some from Neotropical region— hummingbirds, flycatchers

9. Neotropical region 70% of land surface is low elevation and with abundant moisture 32% of South America is tropical rain forest (only 9% of Africa, 4.5% of Australia) 38% of South America is savanna

10. Birds of Neotropical 3300 species Many suboscines, as opposed to oscines About 31 of 95 families are endemic Some species emigrated from the Nearctic, including pigeons, jays, blackbirds, warblers

11. Ethiopian region Less climatic variability than other regions Receives only half the rainfall of the Neotropical region, hence there are more deserts, grasslands, savannas

12. Birds of Ethiopian region 1556 species Many seed-eating and ground-dwelling birds Many weaverbirds, larks 6 endemic or nearly endemic families

13. Oriental region Smallest region Much of it is tropical and subtropical Much rain

14. Birds of the Oriental region 960 species Most shared species with the Ethiopian, Palearctic and Australian regions Two endemic families

15. Australian region Diverse climates although much of the region is dry Isolated region

16. Birds of the Australian region 906 species No woodpeckers Parrots and doves are important groups 13 endemic families

17. Birds may have originated in the Holarctic Therefore areas separated from the Holarctic by substantial barriers, e.g. Australia, sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and South America tend to have more endemic taxa than areas less isolated from the Holarctic

18. Tropical vs. Temperate Birds Many more studies on temperate birds I will be presenting generalizations

19. Tropical vs. Temperate Environments Less seasonality due to temperature differences Instead, wet and dry seasons Many tropical food resources are available year-round

20. Population ecology of tropical birds Breeding seasons longer and more variable Less synchrony within a population Breeding seasons not always driven by food availability Fewer available mates in tropical systems

21. With fewer available mates in tropics: Fewer EPCs Smaller testes Song output consistent year-round Sexes tend to be monomorphic

22. Because tropical birds maintain territories year-round Territories are much larger than for temperate species Population sizes much smaller However, keep in mind that 1/3 of tropical birds don’t have conventional breeding territories

23. Other patterns: Nest predation higher Adult survival higher Clutch sizes lower More cooperative breeders Many species are less active

24. Tropical vs. temperate communities More species-rich More fruit-eaters, nectar-eaters, ant swarm followers, large insect eaters (more guilds) Many bigger birds in tropical areas More species per guild Mixed-species flocks year-round More suboscines

25. Tropical community characteristics Highest diversity within forest, not at edges Many intra-tropical migrants that are nectar or fruit-eaters Fruit and nectar-eating birds more colorful than insectivores