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Urban Juncos' Beaks Shift with Pandemic Changes

12/16/2025

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Story summary
  • The dark-eyed junco has adapted to urban life in Los Angeles, altering breeding behaviors and traits including shorter wings and stubbier beaks.
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus closures caused juncos born there to revert to wild beak shape.
  • After restrictions lifted, the urban beak shape returned, according to a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.