Our laboratory group conducts research on the behavioral ecology of birds, including work on animal communication, sexual selection, and mating systems.  Much of our recent work has focused on the songs of song sparrows and swamp sparrows (see examples in this page), but group members have also studied a variety of other birds, including great frigatebirds, Muscovy ducks, Cherrie's tanagers, boat-tailed grackles, red-winged blackbirds, sociable weavers, plain wrens and white-throated thrushes.


Current collaborators include Steve Nowicki and his laboratory group at Duke University, Mike Beecher and his lab at the University of Washington, and Melissa Hughes at the College of Charleston.

  
 
 
 
  Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) Swamp sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)