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.