Nightingales' wigspan became smaller possibly because of change in climate

April 1, 2020

_wHUS8sbJGIBz29awV8WfXOZBXWH5wOADeYXnMwDanAdReX3FMeTZ_tw9w5TOC2LOzwQ_XjiNQK2wxWGlBA0kRAbbepsDdsMAoj1IiyGy73IP5kzC_sir_0 Researchers in Spain found that over a 20-year period, nightingales had evolved smaller wingspans.

The scientists say this is linked to a changing climate in the region which has seen the early onset of spring and increased drought.

Famed for its ability to sing, the nightingale has a very rich repertoire as it is able to produce over 1,000 different sounds, compared to just 340 by skylarks.

Common nightingales are so named because they frequently sing at night as well as during the day. The name has been used for more than 1,000 years, being highly recognisable even in its Old English form nihtegale, which means "night songstress".

Their song is loud, with an impressive range of whistles, trills and gurgles. Its song is particularly noticeable at night because few other birds are singing. This is why its name includes "night" in several languages. Only unpaired males sing regularly at night, and nocturnal song probably serves to attract a mate.

Although common in many parts of Europe and Asia, the bird is mainly seen and heard in southern England.

The nightingale spends the winter in sub-Saharan Africa, with the small, brown creature clocking up huge distances during migration.

Faced with a shorter breeding season, the researchers believe the most successful birds are having smaller families with smaller wings.

"Our results show that spring is delayed and the intensity of the summer drought is higher, which means a shorter optimal breeding period for the birds," said Dr Carolina Remacha, from Madrid's Complutense University, who led the study.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-52111309