Colorful Passerine Birds Face Higher Extinction Risk, Study Finds

A new analysis published in the journal *Conservation Biology* shows that the most brightly coloured passerine birds are at a significantly higher risk of extinction than their dull‑coloured relatives. Researchers Natalia Ocampo‑Peñuela and Monte Neate‑Clegg of the University of California, Santa Cruz combined data on plumage colour, body size, diet, geographic range and human pressures such as the exotic pet trade. Their results reveal a clear positive correlation between colour diversity and extinction risk.

The heightened threat is most acute in South and Southeast Asia and the Australasian region, where capture for the pet market is a major driver. In Latin America and Africa, habitat loss and climate change appear to be the dominant pressures. The study highlights that traits valued by humans—vivid appearance and melodious song—can increase vulnerability, and that conservation strategies need to account for these region‑specific threats.