Leaping as a Way of Life: Behavioral Ecology of a Neotropical Bird

The 2023 Paul C. Mundinger Distinguished Lectureship was given by Regina Macedo, Associate Professor in the Department of Zoology at Brazil’s University of Brasilia.
The Blue-black Grassquit, a bird species native to South America, offers a fascinating window into avian behavior and evolutionary biology. Their eye-catching, leaping courtship dance is unique and distinctive. Dr. Regina Macedo has spent 25 years unraveling the intricacies of the Blue-black Grassquit and how the interplay between survival pressures and mate preferences molds behavior and appearances. Join us for this lecture as Dr. Macedo leads us through her work and explores how this unique Neotropical bird enhances our understanding of bird biology.
This lectureship was established in honor of the late Paul Mundinger, who received his Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology from Cornell University.

[@kaliopinikitas5821]

This was brilliant research! Considering the role of sunlight in the grassquit behaviour, testing the hypothesis (among other hypotheses around predation etc) and connecting the dots is sheer brilliance. Thank you so much for this fabulous lecture. Huge thank you, of course, to professor Regina Macedo and all involved.

[@MaliMishMarlene]

Wonderful lecture. Thanks for sharing it with us online. While waiting for the annular solar eclipse a few weeks ago near Mérida, Mexico, I heard so many grassquits in the tall grasses around me but could spot a single one. They sure did get a little quieter once the sun disappeared for a few minutes :)

[@LoftLorian]

The video starts at 17:42 they do nothing but brag about their credentials before that.