Antonio Celis-Murillo, Ph.D.
Antonio Celis-Murillo serves as Chief of the U.S. Geological Survey Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) — one of the nation's longest-running wildlife monitoring programs, supporting over a century of migratory bird research and management across North America. Under his leadership, the BBL ensures the scientific integrity, coordination, and delivery of critical bird banding data.
With expertise in bird ecology, population monitoring, and science policy, Antonio leads a team that curates over 100 years of banding records, processes thousands of federal permits, and manages the integration of banding data with cutting-edge tracking technologies. These data contribute directly to regulatory frameworks such as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Endangered Species Act, and 50 CFR 21.70, and support setting annual migratory game bird regulations in close partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Flyway Councils, and state agencies.
Antonio’s leadership emphasizes scientific transparency, operational modernization, and collaborative partnerships, ensuring the BBL remains a cornerstone for applied avian science, harvest management, and long-term conservation strategies across the continent.
Professional Experience
BBL Manager at USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center
BBL Biologist at USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Postdoctoral research position at the Illinois Natural History Survey
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. in Natural Resources and Environmental Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2015)
Masters in Integrative Biology (2008)
B.S. in Biology from the Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos in Mexico (2002)
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 13
Workshop: Western hemisphere network of bird banding programs Workshop: Western hemisphere network of bird banding programs
Purpose: To promote collaboration among banding programs in the Americas. Introduction: Bird banding and marking provide indispensable tools for ornithological research, management, and conservation of migratory birds on migratory routes, breeding and non-breeding grounds. Many countries and organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean are in the process of developing or have...
Authors
A. Celis-Murillo
Non-USGS Publications**
Darras, K., Batáry, P., Furnas, B., Celis-Murillo, A., Van Wilgenburg, S. L., Mulyani, Y. A. and T. Tscharntke. 2018. Comparing the sampling performance of sound recorders versus point counts in bird surveys: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Ecology 55(6) 2575-2586. doi: 10.1111/1365- 2664.13229
Celis-Murillo, A., Schelsky, W. T. J. Benson, Louder, M.I.M., and M. P. Ward. 2017. Patterns, correlates, and paternity consequences of extraterritorial foray behavior in the field sparrow (Spizella pusilla): an automated telemetry approach. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 71(45). doi: 10.1007/s00265-017-2273-9
Suarez-Garcia, O., F. Gonzalez-Garcia, and A. Celis-Murillo. 2017. Entendiendo la complementariedad de dos métodos de muestreo en el estudio de comunidades de aves de un bosque mesófilo de montana en temporada reproductiva (Understanding the complementarity of two survey methods in the study of bird communities during the breeding season in a tropical cloud forest). Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 8(4) 880-887. doi:10.1016/j.rmb.2017.10.029
Celis-Murillo, A., T. J. Benson, J. R. Sosa-Lopez, and M. P. Ward. 2016. Nocturnal songs in a diurnal passerine: Attracting mates or repelling intruders? Animal behaviour 118:105-114. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.04.023
Healy, S. D. and S. A. Foster. 2016. Featured Articles in This Month's Animal Behaviour: Why day-active male Birds Croon at Night. Animal behaviour 118:149-151. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.06.016
Celis-Murillo, A., K. W. Stodola, B. Pappadopoli, J. M. Burton and M. P. Ward. 2016. Seasonal and daily patterns of nocturnal singing in the Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla). Journal of Ornithology 157(3) 853–860. doi: 10.1007/s10336-015-1318-y
Deppe, J. L., M. P. Ward, R. Bolus, R. Diehl, A. Celis-Murillo, T. J. Zenzal, F. Moore, T. J. Benson, J. A. Smolinky, L. N. Schofield, D. A. Enstrom, E. H. Paxton, G. Bohrer, T. A. Beveroth, R. L. Obringer, D. Delaney and W. W. Cochran. 2015. Fat, weather, and date affect migratory songbirds’ departure decisions, routes, and time it takes to cross the Gulf of Mexico. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences 112(46) E6331-E6338. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1503381112
Deppe, J. L., A. Celis-Murillo, and M. P. Ward. 2015. Telemetry confirms the significance of migratory stopover habitats. Gulf Coast Bird Observatory Gulf Crossings 19:3.
Zhang, V., A. Celis-Murillo and M. P. Ward. 2015. Conveying information with one song type: Changes in dawn song performance correspond to different female breeding stages. Bioacoustics 25(1) 19-28. doi: 10.1080/09524622.2015.1076348
Celis-Murillo, A., M. P. Ward, and J. L. Deppe. 2012. Effectiveness and utility of acoustic recordings for surveying tropical birds. Journal of Field Ornithology 83(2):166-179. doi:10.1111/j.1557-9263.2012.00366.x
Urbina-Torres, F., A. González-Martínez, R. Amador-Solís, O. Monroy-Vilchis and A. Celis-Murillo. 2012. Nuevos registros de aves para el Estado de México. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 83(4):1241-1243. doi:10.22201/ib.20078706e.2012.4.1024
MacKinnon de Montes, B., J. L. Deppe, and A. Celis-Murillo. 2011. Birds of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico: an update on the status and distribution of selected species. North American Birds 65(3):2-16.
Celis-Murillo, A., J. L. Deppe, and M. F. Allen. 2009. Using soundscape recordings to estimate species abundance, richness, and composition. Journal of Field Ornithology 80(1):64-78. doi:10.1111/j.1557-9263.2009.00206.x
Celis-Murillo, A. and F. González-García. 2008. Bird songs of the Yucatan Peninsula Vol. 1 - Audio CD. Terrapin Records. NY. USA.
González-García. F. and A. Celis-Murillo. 2008. Bird songs of Veracruz - Audio CD. Instituto de Ecología A.C. Mexico
González-García. F., A. Salvadori., C. M. Francis., A. Celis-Murillo and M. Campbell. 2006. Introduction of the Bird Songs of Veracruz, Mexico. Interactive CD-ROM of the Bird Songs of Veracruz. Prepared for the V North American Ornithology Conference 2006 (NAOC V).
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Filter Total Items: 16
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 13
Workshop: Western hemisphere network of bird banding programs Workshop: Western hemisphere network of bird banding programs
Purpose: To promote collaboration among banding programs in the Americas. Introduction: Bird banding and marking provide indispensable tools for ornithological research, management, and conservation of migratory birds on migratory routes, breeding and non-breeding grounds. Many countries and organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean are in the process of developing or have...
Authors
A. Celis-Murillo
Non-USGS Publications**
Darras, K., Batáry, P., Furnas, B., Celis-Murillo, A., Van Wilgenburg, S. L., Mulyani, Y. A. and T. Tscharntke. 2018. Comparing the sampling performance of sound recorders versus point counts in bird surveys: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Ecology 55(6) 2575-2586. doi: 10.1111/1365- 2664.13229
Celis-Murillo, A., Schelsky, W. T. J. Benson, Louder, M.I.M., and M. P. Ward. 2017. Patterns, correlates, and paternity consequences of extraterritorial foray behavior in the field sparrow (Spizella pusilla): an automated telemetry approach. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 71(45). doi: 10.1007/s00265-017-2273-9
Suarez-Garcia, O., F. Gonzalez-Garcia, and A. Celis-Murillo. 2017. Entendiendo la complementariedad de dos métodos de muestreo en el estudio de comunidades de aves de un bosque mesófilo de montana en temporada reproductiva (Understanding the complementarity of two survey methods in the study of bird communities during the breeding season in a tropical cloud forest). Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 8(4) 880-887. doi:10.1016/j.rmb.2017.10.029
Celis-Murillo, A., T. J. Benson, J. R. Sosa-Lopez, and M. P. Ward. 2016. Nocturnal songs in a diurnal passerine: Attracting mates or repelling intruders? Animal behaviour 118:105-114. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.04.023
Healy, S. D. and S. A. Foster. 2016. Featured Articles in This Month's Animal Behaviour: Why day-active male Birds Croon at Night. Animal behaviour 118:149-151. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.06.016
Celis-Murillo, A., K. W. Stodola, B. Pappadopoli, J. M. Burton and M. P. Ward. 2016. Seasonal and daily patterns of nocturnal singing in the Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla). Journal of Ornithology 157(3) 853–860. doi: 10.1007/s10336-015-1318-y
Deppe, J. L., M. P. Ward, R. Bolus, R. Diehl, A. Celis-Murillo, T. J. Zenzal, F. Moore, T. J. Benson, J. A. Smolinky, L. N. Schofield, D. A. Enstrom, E. H. Paxton, G. Bohrer, T. A. Beveroth, R. L. Obringer, D. Delaney and W. W. Cochran. 2015. Fat, weather, and date affect migratory songbirds’ departure decisions, routes, and time it takes to cross the Gulf of Mexico. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences 112(46) E6331-E6338. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1503381112
Deppe, J. L., A. Celis-Murillo, and M. P. Ward. 2015. Telemetry confirms the significance of migratory stopover habitats. Gulf Coast Bird Observatory Gulf Crossings 19:3.
Zhang, V., A. Celis-Murillo and M. P. Ward. 2015. Conveying information with one song type: Changes in dawn song performance correspond to different female breeding stages. Bioacoustics 25(1) 19-28. doi: 10.1080/09524622.2015.1076348
Celis-Murillo, A., M. P. Ward, and J. L. Deppe. 2012. Effectiveness and utility of acoustic recordings for surveying tropical birds. Journal of Field Ornithology 83(2):166-179. doi:10.1111/j.1557-9263.2012.00366.x
Urbina-Torres, F., A. González-Martínez, R. Amador-Solís, O. Monroy-Vilchis and A. Celis-Murillo. 2012. Nuevos registros de aves para el Estado de México. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 83(4):1241-1243. doi:10.22201/ib.20078706e.2012.4.1024
MacKinnon de Montes, B., J. L. Deppe, and A. Celis-Murillo. 2011. Birds of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico: an update on the status and distribution of selected species. North American Birds 65(3):2-16.
Celis-Murillo, A., J. L. Deppe, and M. F. Allen. 2009. Using soundscape recordings to estimate species abundance, richness, and composition. Journal of Field Ornithology 80(1):64-78. doi:10.1111/j.1557-9263.2009.00206.x
Celis-Murillo, A. and F. González-García. 2008. Bird songs of the Yucatan Peninsula Vol. 1 - Audio CD. Terrapin Records. NY. USA.
González-García. F. and A. Celis-Murillo. 2008. Bird songs of Veracruz - Audio CD. Instituto de Ecología A.C. Mexico
González-García. F., A. Salvadori., C. M. Francis., A. Celis-Murillo and M. Campbell. 2006. Introduction of the Bird Songs of Veracruz, Mexico. Interactive CD-ROM of the Bird Songs of Veracruz. Prepared for the V North American Ornithology Conference 2006 (NAOC V).
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Filter Total Items: 16