Citizen science study shows: Europe’s buzzards are losing their colour diversity

• Mapping colour: scientists used nearly 100,000 citizen science observations to map and track common buzzard plumage colour across Europe.
• Unexpected patterns: buzzard colours vary geographically with patterns that defy theories linking colour to habitat and climate.
• Fading variety: over 20 years, intermediate-coloured birds increased starkly across Europe at the expense of darker and lighter ones.
• Future research: studies are needed to explore these patterns further and to assess the impact of changing diversity on the species‘ adaptability.
Quelle: IDW