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Links Related to Beak Deformity Research

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By Alaska Science Center February 28, 2025

Links, videos, and news articles related to beak deformity research. 

Report Beak Deformity Observation

Return to Ecosystems >> Terrestrial Ecosystems or Wildlife Disease and Environmental Health >> Beak Deformities

Links

Videos

Audio Broadcast

Articles

 

A Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler with a deformed beak sitting in a tree in Cape May, New Jersey
A Yellow-rumped Warbler with a deformed beak, Cape May, New Jersey
Large black bird with a longer beak than normal on the ground
Northwestern Crow with a curved elongated upper beak in Juneau, Alaska
Chestnut-sided Warbler with deformed beak in a tree
Chestnut-sided Warbler with deformed beak
A Black-capped Chickadee with a severely deformed beak where the upper beak is elongated and curved down while the lower beak is
Black-capped Chickadee with lower elongated and upper curved beak

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

A Black-capped Chickadee with a severely deformed beak where the upper beak is elongated and curved down while the lower beak is

Beak Deformities in Landbirds

Over the past 26 years, Alaskans have witnessed a startling increase of beak deformities among Black-capped Chickadees and other species of resident birds. This disease, called avian keratin disorder (AKD), is characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth and other abnormalities of keratinized tissues. Affected birds have difficulty feeding and preening and may suffer high rates of mortality. If...
By
Alaska Science Center
Beak Deformities in Landbirds

Beak Deformities in Landbirds

Over the past 26 years, Alaskans have witnessed a startling increase of beak deformities among Black-capped Chickadees and other species of resident birds. This disease, called avian keratin disorder (AKD), is characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth and other abnormalities of keratinized tissues. Affected birds have difficulty feeding and preening and may suffer high rates of mortality. If...
Learn More

Below are multimedia items associated with this project.

No results found.

Below are publications associated with this project.

Handel, C. M., L. M. Pajot, S. M. Matsuoka, K. A. Trust, J. M. Stotts, J. Terenzi, and S. L. Talbot. 2006. Potential Role of Environmental Contaminants in the Pathology of Beak Deformities among Black-capped Chickadees in South-central Alaska. Unpb. final rpt. Project ID: 1130-7F22. U. S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK.

Filter Total Items: 16

Beak deformities in Northwestern Crows: Evidence of a multispecies epizootic Beak deformities in Northwestern Crows: Evidence of a multispecies epizootic

Beak abnormalities are rare among adult birds and, typically, are not widespread in a given population, within a region, or across multiple species. A high concentration of beak deformities was recently documented in Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) and other resident avian species in Alaska. We describe a parallel condition in Northwestern Crows (Corvus caurinus) that...
Authors
Caroline Van Hemert, Colleen Handel
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Epizootic of beak deformities among wild birds in Alaska: An emerging disease in North America? Epizootic of beak deformities among wild birds in Alaska: An emerging disease in North America?

The sudden appearance of a large cluster of animals with gross abnormalities may signal a significant change in an ecosystem. We describe an unusual concentration of beak deformities that appear to have arisen rapidly within Alaska and now extend southward along the Pacific Coast. In Alaska we have documented 2,160 Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) and 435 individuals of 29...
Authors
Colleen Handel, Lisa Pajot, Steven Matsuoka, Caroline Van Hemert, John Terenzi, Sandra Talbot, Daniel Mulcahy, Carol Meteyer, Kimberly Trust
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center

Alaskan birds at risk: Widespread beak deformities in resident species Alaskan birds at risk: Widespread beak deformities in resident species

The team creeps silently across a well-tended lawn, eyes drawn to a small wooden box perched several meters up a lone birch tree. The first biologist is armed with a broom in one hand and a bug net in the other. Her partner wields a lunchbox-sized plastic case and a tree-climbing ladder that looks like an oversized radio antenna. A neighbor peers out her window from across the street to...
Authors
Caroline Van Hemert
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Use of buccal swabs for sampling DNA from nestling and adult birds Use of buccal swabs for sampling DNA from nestling and adult birds

We evaluated the feasibility and efficiency of using swabs to collect buccal epithelial cells fromsmall (2‐ to 13‐g) birds as a source of DNA for genetic studies. We used commercially available buccal swab kits to collect samples from 42 adult and 39 nestling (4‐ to 8‐day‐old) black‐capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) and from6 4‐day‐old nestling boreal chickadees (P. hudsonica). We...
Authors
Colleen Handel, Lisa Pajot, Sandra Talbot, George Sage
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Links, videos, and news articles related to beak deformity research. 

Report Beak Deformity Observation

Return to Ecosystems >> Terrestrial Ecosystems or Wildlife Disease and Environmental Health >> Beak Deformities

Links

Videos

Audio Broadcast

Articles

 

A Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler with a deformed beak sitting in a tree in Cape May, New Jersey
A Yellow-rumped Warbler with a deformed beak, Cape May, New Jersey
Large black bird with a longer beak than normal on the ground
Northwestern Crow with a curved elongated upper beak in Juneau, Alaska
Chestnut-sided Warbler with deformed beak in a tree
Chestnut-sided Warbler with deformed beak
A Black-capped Chickadee with a severely deformed beak where the upper beak is elongated and curved down while the lower beak is
Black-capped Chickadee with lower elongated and upper curved beak

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

A Black-capped Chickadee with a severely deformed beak where the upper beak is elongated and curved down while the lower beak is

Beak Deformities in Landbirds

Over the past 26 years, Alaskans have witnessed a startling increase of beak deformities among Black-capped Chickadees and other species of resident birds. This disease, called avian keratin disorder (AKD), is characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth and other abnormalities of keratinized tissues. Affected birds have difficulty feeding and preening and may suffer high rates of mortality. If...
By
Alaska Science Center
Beak Deformities in Landbirds

Beak Deformities in Landbirds

Over the past 26 years, Alaskans have witnessed a startling increase of beak deformities among Black-capped Chickadees and other species of resident birds. This disease, called avian keratin disorder (AKD), is characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth and other abnormalities of keratinized tissues. Affected birds have difficulty feeding and preening and may suffer high rates of mortality. If...
Learn More

Below are multimedia items associated with this project.

No results found.

Below are publications associated with this project.

Handel, C. M., L. M. Pajot, S. M. Matsuoka, K. A. Trust, J. M. Stotts, J. Terenzi, and S. L. Talbot. 2006. Potential Role of Environmental Contaminants in the Pathology of Beak Deformities among Black-capped Chickadees in South-central Alaska. Unpb. final rpt. Project ID: 1130-7F22. U. S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK.

Filter Total Items: 16

Beak deformities in Northwestern Crows: Evidence of a multispecies epizootic Beak deformities in Northwestern Crows: Evidence of a multispecies epizootic

Beak abnormalities are rare among adult birds and, typically, are not widespread in a given population, within a region, or across multiple species. A high concentration of beak deformities was recently documented in Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) and other resident avian species in Alaska. We describe a parallel condition in Northwestern Crows (Corvus caurinus) that...
Authors
Caroline Van Hemert, Colleen Handel
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Epizootic of beak deformities among wild birds in Alaska: An emerging disease in North America? Epizootic of beak deformities among wild birds in Alaska: An emerging disease in North America?

The sudden appearance of a large cluster of animals with gross abnormalities may signal a significant change in an ecosystem. We describe an unusual concentration of beak deformities that appear to have arisen rapidly within Alaska and now extend southward along the Pacific Coast. In Alaska we have documented 2,160 Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) and 435 individuals of 29...
Authors
Colleen Handel, Lisa Pajot, Steven Matsuoka, Caroline Van Hemert, John Terenzi, Sandra Talbot, Daniel Mulcahy, Carol Meteyer, Kimberly Trust
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center

Alaskan birds at risk: Widespread beak deformities in resident species Alaskan birds at risk: Widespread beak deformities in resident species

The team creeps silently across a well-tended lawn, eyes drawn to a small wooden box perched several meters up a lone birch tree. The first biologist is armed with a broom in one hand and a bug net in the other. Her partner wields a lunchbox-sized plastic case and a tree-climbing ladder that looks like an oversized radio antenna. A neighbor peers out her window from across the street to...
Authors
Caroline Van Hemert
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Use of buccal swabs for sampling DNA from nestling and adult birds Use of buccal swabs for sampling DNA from nestling and adult birds

We evaluated the feasibility and efficiency of using swabs to collect buccal epithelial cells fromsmall (2‐ to 13‐g) birds as a source of DNA for genetic studies. We used commercially available buccal swab kits to collect samples from 42 adult and 39 nestling (4‐ to 8‐day‐old) black‐capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) and from6 4‐day‐old nestling boreal chickadees (P. hudsonica). We...
Authors
Colleen Handel, Lisa Pajot, Sandra Talbot, George Sage
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center
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