Barn swallow research offers real-time insight on how new species form

by University of Colorado at Boulder

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder—even if that beholder is a barn swallow. Depending on where the birds live, some of them may favor mates with a paler chest color while others find a redder chest more attractive. The difference in what these birds prefer when it comes to choosing a mate is helping scientists unlock one of biology's greatest mysteries: How do new species originate? Read full story.

The study was published Dec. 12 in the journal Science.

More information: Drew R. Schield, Sexual selection promotes reproductive isolation in barn swallows, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adj8766. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adj8766