The Ornithology Division performs both applied and basic research. Most is specimen-based and centered around our state-of the-art molecular laboratory facility.
Much of the Ornithology Division's recent research is in the area of conservation genetics. In this work, population genetic techniques are used to identify genetically unique populations, define population boundaries, estimate current and historic population sizes, and estimate the degree of gene flow into and out of populations of concern. By enhancing our understanding of regional biodiversity in this way, natural resource managers are able to make better-informed conservation decisions.
Another primary function of this program is the continued building and maintenance of the Avian Research Collection. This collection represents a permanent record of avian biodiversity that is not only used in many contemporary studies, but also will be available for use by future generations of researchers.
Submissions from 2011
Phylogeography of a vanishing North American songbird: The Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris), Connie Ann Herr, P. W. Sykes, and John Klicka
A generic name for some sparrows (Aves: Emberizidae), John Klicka and Richard C. Banks
A phylogeographic and population genetic analysis of a widespread, sedentary North American bird: The Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus), John Klicka, Garth M. Spellman, Kevin Winker, Vivien Chua, and Brian T. Smith
Cryptic diversity in a widespread North American songbird: Phylogeography of the Brown Creeper (Certhia americana), Joseph D. Manthey, John Klicka, and Garth M. Spellman
The role of historical and contemporary processes on phylogeographic structure and genetic diversity in the Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis, Brian T. Smith, Patricia Escalante, Blanca E. Hernandez-Banos, Adolfo G. Navarro-Siguenza, Sievert Rohwer, and John Klicka
Botteri's Sparrow (Peucaea botterii) occurs in Northern Coahuila, Mexico, Paul van Els, Ricardo Canales-del-Castillo, and John Klicka
Submissions from 2010
Two pulses of diversification across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in a montane Mexican bird fauna, B. R. Barber and John Klicka
Molecular phylogenetic analysis of an endangered Mexican sparrow: Spizella wortheni, Ricardo Canales-del-Castillo, John Klicka, Susana Favela, and Jose I. Gonzalez-Rojas
A comprehensive multilocus phylogeny for the wood-warblers and a revised classification of the Parulidae (Aves), Irby J. Lovette, Jorge I. Perez-Eman, John P. Sullivan, Richard C. Banks, Isabella Fiorentino, Sergio Cordoba, Maria Echeveray-Galvis, F. Keith Barker, Kevin J. Burns, John Klicka, Scott M. Lanyon, and Eldredge Bermingham
Neotropical birds show a humped distribution of within-population genetic diversity along a latitudinal transect, Matthew J. Miller, Eldredge Bermingham, John Klicka, Patricia Escalante, and Kevin Winker
The profound influence of the Late-Pliocene Panamanian uplift on the exchange, diversification, and distribution of New World Birds, Brian T. Smith and John Klicka
Submissions from 2009
A molecular systematic revision of two historically problematic songbird clades: Aimophila and Pipilo, Jeffrey M. DaCosta, Garth M. Spellman, Patricia Escalante, and John Klicka
Evolutionary history of a prominent North American warbler clade: The Oporornis–Geothlypis complex, Patricia Escalante, Laura Márquez-Valdelamar, Patricia De La Torre, Juan P. Laclette, and John Klicka
Submissions from 2008
The great American interchange in birds: a phylogenetic perspective with the genus trogon, Jeffrey M. DaCosta and John Klicka
Historic genetic structuring and paraphyly within the Great-tailed Grackle, Jeffrey M. DaCosta, Walter Wehtje, and John Klicka
Out of Amazonia again and again: Episodic crossing of the Andes promotes diversification in a lowland forest flycatcher, Matthew J. Miller, Eldredge Bermingham, John Klicka, Patricia Escalante, Fabio S. Raposo do Amaral, Jason T. Weir, and Kevin Winker
Geographic variation in malarial parasite lineages in the Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas), K. M. Pagenkopp, John Klicka, K. L. Durrant, J. C. Garvin, and R. C. Fleischer
Systematics of Zoothera thrushes, and a synthesis of true thrush molecular systematic relationships, Gary Voelker and John Klicka
Phylogeography of a morphologically diverse Neotropical montane species, the Common Bush-tanager (Chlorospingus ophthalmicus), Jason T. Weir, Eldredge Bermingham, Matthew J. Miller, John Klicka, and Maribel A. Gonzalez
Submissions from 2007
Evolutionary differentiation in the neotropical montane region: Molecular phylogenetics and phylogeography of Buarremon brush-finches (Aves, Emberizinae), Carlos Daniel Cadena, John Klicka, and Robert E. Ricklefs
Bilateral gynandromorphy in a White-ruffed Manakin (Corapipo altera), Jeffrey M. DaCosta, Garth M. Spellman, and John Klicka
Defining a monophyletic Cardinalini: A molecular perspective, John Klicka, Kevin J. Burns, and Garth M. Spellman
A molecular evaluation of the North American “Grassland” sparrow clade, John Klicka and Garth M. Spellman
Phylogeography of the White-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis), Diversification in North American pine and oak woodlands, Garth M. Spellman and John Klicka
Phylogeography of the Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli): diversification, introgression, and expansion in response to Quaternary climate change, Garth M. Spellman, Brett R. Riddle, and John Klicka
Submissions from 2006
Testing hypotheses of Pleistocene population history using coalescent simulations: phylogeography of the Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea), Garth M. Spellman and John Klicka
The tempo of avian diversification: A response to Johnson and Cicero, Robert M. Zink and John Klicka
Submissions from 2005
A molecular phylogenetic analysis of the “true thrushes” (Aves: Turdinae), John Klicka, Gary Voelker, and Garth M. Spellman
Submissions from 2004
The tempo of avian diversification during the Quaternary, Robert M. Zink, John Klicka, and Brian R. Barber
Submissions from 2003
Longspurs and Snow Buntings: Phylogeny and biogeography of a high-latitude clade (Calcarius), John Klicka, Robert M. Zink, and Kevin Winker
Submissions from 2001
A Cytochrome-b Perspective on Passerina Bunting Relationships, John Klicka, Adam J. Fry, Robert M. Zink, and Christopher W. Thompson
The taxonomic rank of Spizella taverneri: A response to Mayr and Johnson, John Klicka, Robert M. Zink, Jon C. Barlow, W. Bruce McGillivray, and Terry J. Doyle
Recolonization of the Flicker and other notes from Isla Guadalupe, Mexico, Paul R. Sweet, George F. Barrrowclough, John Klicka, Liliana Montanez-Godoy, and Patricia Escalante
Submissions from 2000
New World nine-primaried oscine relationships: constructing a molecular framework, John Klicka, Kevin P. Johnson, and Scott M. Lanyon
Avian Evolution during the Pleistocene in North America, Robert M. Zink and John Klicka
Submissions from 1999
Pleistocene effects on North American songbird evolution, John Klicka and Robert M. Zink
Evidence supporting the recent origin and species status of the Timberline Sparrow, John Klicka, Robert M. Zink, Jon C. Barlow, W. Bruce McGillivray, and Terry J. Doyle
Evolutionary patterns of morphometrics, allozymes and mitochondrial DNA in thrashers (Genus Toxostoma), Robert M. Zink, Donna L. Dittmann, John Klicka, and Rachelle C. Blackwell-Rago
Submissions from 1998
Pleistocene speciation and the mitochondrial DNA clock: A response to Arbogast and Slowinski, John Klicka and Robert M. Zink
Submissions from 1997
The importance of recent ice ages in speciation: A failed paradigm, John Klicka and Robert M. Zink