David Toews
@davetoews.bsky.social
Associate Professor, Pennsylvania State University. Studies evolutionary genomics, mostly in birds. https://www.davetoews.com.
Reposted by David Toews
You are ABSOLUTELY NOT going to regret listening to this bird:
A male rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in winter plumage.
Ptarmigan is from Gaelic 'tarmachan' meaning "croaker". The p- was added when people mistakenly assumed it was a Greek word.
A bird forever warning people: "A werewolf!" (just in case of werewolves).
Ptarmigan is from Gaelic 'tarmachan' meaning "croaker". The p- was added when people mistakenly assumed it was a Greek word.
A bird forever warning people: "A werewolf!" (just in case of werewolves).
December 6, 2025 at 5:10 PM
You are ABSOLUTELY NOT going to regret listening to this bird:
Eating a mouthful of chocolate chips cures 98% of hiccups. Prove me wrong!
December 7, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Eating a mouthful of chocolate chips cures 98% of hiccups. Prove me wrong!
Reposted by David Toews
inaccurately-named birds, a helpful guide:
December 6, 2025 at 7:50 PM
inaccurately-named birds, a helpful guide:
Reposted by David Toews
Check out our cover article by @timjanicke.bsky.social and colleagues about the role of sexual selection in animal speciation. academic.oup.com/evlett/artic.... The beautiful illustration is by Katharina Bóth.
December 4, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Check out our cover article by @timjanicke.bsky.social and colleagues about the role of sexual selection in animal speciation. academic.oup.com/evlett/artic.... The beautiful illustration is by Katharina Bóth.
Reposted by David Toews
Looking at long-read data is so calming compared to short reads.
December 3, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Looking at long-read data is so calming compared to short reads.
Reposted by David Toews
maybe i am going insane
November 24, 2025 at 6:49 PM
maybe i am going insane
Reposted by David Toews
Check out our short warbler hybrid paper out today, including a new unofficial common name. Carotenoid people will find some little tidbits of discussion about how these hybrids can help us understand regulation of yellow feathers.
I mean, the title says it all: Genetic confirmation of an “uncommon mourningthroat” (Geothlypis philadelphia × G. trichas): A rare but persistent hybrid warbler. Fun stuff with @kevinfpbennett.bsky.social and Kurt Gielow, OA in @wilsonornithsoc.bsky.social!
🦉 🧪
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
🦉 🧪
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
November 21, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Check out our short warbler hybrid paper out today, including a new unofficial common name. Carotenoid people will find some little tidbits of discussion about how these hybrids can help us understand regulation of yellow feathers.
Reposted by David Toews
I am by no means a prominent public intellectual, but my inbox is increasingly filled with messages from people who have been convinced by sycophantic chatbots that they have discovered revolutionary theories that entirely upend our scientific understanding of the universe.
November 21, 2025 at 2:49 AM
I am by no means a prominent public intellectual, but my inbox is increasingly filled with messages from people who have been convinced by sycophantic chatbots that they have discovered revolutionary theories that entirely upend our scientific understanding of the universe.
I mean, the title says it all: Genetic confirmation of an “uncommon mourningthroat” (Geothlypis philadelphia × G. trichas): A rare but persistent hybrid warbler. Fun stuff with @kevinfpbennett.bsky.social and Kurt Gielow, OA in @wilsonornithsoc.bsky.social!
🦉 🧪
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
🦉 🧪
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
November 21, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I mean, the title says it all: Genetic confirmation of an “uncommon mourningthroat” (Geothlypis philadelphia × G. trichas): A rare but persistent hybrid warbler. Fun stuff with @kevinfpbennett.bsky.social and Kurt Gielow, OA in @wilsonornithsoc.bsky.social!
🦉 🧪
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
🦉 🧪
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by David Toews
Earlier today, I was notified that someone was at my door.
This is who it was:
This is who it was:
November 21, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Earlier today, I was notified that someone was at my door.
This is who it was:
This is who it was:
Reposted by David Toews
are you sick of generative AI slop?
why not fight back by adorning your home with gorgeous birds that only an attentive birder could draw? www.tommysiegel.net
why not fight back by adorning your home with gorgeous birds that only an attentive birder could draw? www.tommysiegel.net
November 19, 2025 at 7:51 PM
are you sick of generative AI slop?
why not fight back by adorning your home with gorgeous birds that only an attentive birder could draw? www.tommysiegel.net
why not fight back by adorning your home with gorgeous birds that only an attentive birder could draw? www.tommysiegel.net
Going to be a big month for warbler science! First out of the gates is @lannhiphung.bsky.social, with song & genomics of Nashville warblers. Eastern and western subspecies: non-overlapping and super distinct. Keep an eye on your life list 😉
🦉🧪@journal-evo.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
🦉🧪@journal-evo.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
November 17, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Going to be a big month for warbler science! First out of the gates is @lannhiphung.bsky.social, with song & genomics of Nashville warblers. Eastern and western subspecies: non-overlapping and super distinct. Keep an eye on your life list 😉
🦉🧪@journal-evo.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
🦉🧪@journal-evo.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
LAKE EFFECT?! AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, AT THIS TIME OF DAY, IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY, LOCALIZED ENTIRELY WITHIN CENTRAL PA!?
November 11, 2025 at 3:00 AM
LAKE EFFECT?! AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, AT THIS TIME OF DAY, IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY, LOCALIZED ENTIRELY WITHIN CENTRAL PA!?
Super excited to release this virtual field / lab experience called "VRmivora":
davetoews.com/vrmivora/
It's free to download via SideQuest for a Meta VR headset:
sidequestvr.com/app/44760/vr...
Thanks to all involved, especially the Center for Immersive Experiences: immersive.psu.edu
🦉🧪
davetoews.com/vrmivora/
It's free to download via SideQuest for a Meta VR headset:
sidequestvr.com/app/44760/vr...
Thanks to all involved, especially the Center for Immersive Experiences: immersive.psu.edu
🦉🧪
VRmivora
This VR experience—created by Penn State and the National Science Foundation—drops you into a young forest to find wood-warblers. Explore the landscape as you find and identify wood-warblers, which…
davetoews.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Super excited to release this virtual field / lab experience called "VRmivora":
davetoews.com/vrmivora/
It's free to download via SideQuest for a Meta VR headset:
sidequestvr.com/app/44760/vr...
Thanks to all involved, especially the Center for Immersive Experiences: immersive.psu.edu
🦉🧪
davetoews.com/vrmivora/
It's free to download via SideQuest for a Meta VR headset:
sidequestvr.com/app/44760/vr...
Thanks to all involved, especially the Center for Immersive Experiences: immersive.psu.edu
🦉🧪
Was literally just talking about this in my evolution class this morning. Very cool!
Cuckoo eggs match the eggs of their adoptive hosts thanks to (mostly) loci inherited from their mothers, who put them there — impressive multifaceted genomic study buff.ly/r8xpxaR
November 6, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Was literally just talking about this in my evolution class this morning. Very cool!
By law, fire alarms have to chirp between 2-5AM when they are low on batteries
November 6, 2025 at 12:46 PM
By law, fire alarms have to chirp between 2-5AM when they are low on batteries
Hell yes—nearly photorealistic!
Go Jays!
Go Jays!
as a bird artist, in honor of tonight’s game i have attempted to draw the gorgeous blue jay as accurately as possible. as always please let me know if you have any constructive criticism
October 31, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Hell yes—nearly photorealistic!
Go Jays!
Go Jays!
Reposted by David Toews
What do you think of the latest podcast episode artwork? lol
This week’s episode is about the Osprey… An absolute honor to have @thebirdist.bsky.social Nick Lund as the expert judge for this edition of Extremely Accurate Bird Songs! Join the ride — only 11,136 species to go! lnk.to/extremelyacc...
This week’s episode is about the Osprey… An absolute honor to have @thebirdist.bsky.social Nick Lund as the expert judge for this edition of Extremely Accurate Bird Songs! Join the ride — only 11,136 species to go! lnk.to/extremelyacc...
October 30, 2025 at 8:17 PM
What do you think of the latest podcast episode artwork? lol
This week’s episode is about the Osprey… An absolute honor to have @thebirdist.bsky.social Nick Lund as the expert judge for this edition of Extremely Accurate Bird Songs! Join the ride — only 11,136 species to go! lnk.to/extremelyacc...
This week’s episode is about the Osprey… An absolute honor to have @thebirdist.bsky.social Nick Lund as the expert judge for this edition of Extremely Accurate Bird Songs! Join the ride — only 11,136 species to go! lnk.to/extremelyacc...
Reposted by David Toews
A big night for Trey Yesavage 🔥
The Blue Jays pitcher broke the rookie World Series record with 12 strikeouts.
The Blue Jays pitcher broke the rookie World Series record with 12 strikeouts.
October 30, 2025 at 2:32 AM
A big night for Trey Yesavage 🔥
The Blue Jays pitcher broke the rookie World Series record with 12 strikeouts.
The Blue Jays pitcher broke the rookie World Series record with 12 strikeouts.
If Coca-Cola wants to make a gagillion dollars off nostalgic millennials, they'd better recreate these spots for the Blue Jays asap
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQlv...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQlv...
1993 Toronto Blue Jays - Coca-Cola Commercials (Three Spots)
YouTube video by Retro Television Airwaves
www.youtube.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:24 PM
If Coca-Cola wants to make a gagillion dollars off nostalgic millennials, they'd better recreate these spots for the Blue Jays asap
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQlv...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQlv...
Reposted by David Toews
Vladimir Guerrero Jr now has 7 home runs this postseason, passing Joe Carter and Jose Bautista for most in the postseason in a career in Blue Jays history
October 29, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Vladimir Guerrero Jr now has 7 home runs this postseason, passing Joe Carter and Jose Bautista for most in the postseason in a career in Blue Jays history
Reposted by David Toews
I should’ve learned this by now but DO NOT use FedEx. The diseased monkeys I ordered haven’t arrived and I can’t get a straight answer on what happened to them
October 29, 2025 at 2:18 AM
I should’ve learned this by now but DO NOT use FedEx. The diseased monkeys I ordered haven’t arrived and I can’t get a straight answer on what happened to them
Reposted by David Toews
The Blue Jays score four big runs in the seventh at Dodgers Stadium.
Still plenty of baseball to be played, but the Jays absolutely needed an inning like that.
Now finish the job. Tie the series.
Still plenty of baseball to be played, but the Jays absolutely needed an inning like that.
Now finish the job. Tie the series.
October 29, 2025 at 2:21 AM
The Blue Jays score four big runs in the seventh at Dodgers Stadium.
Still plenty of baseball to be played, but the Jays absolutely needed an inning like that.
Now finish the job. Tie the series.
Still plenty of baseball to be played, but the Jays absolutely needed an inning like that.
Now finish the job. Tie the series.
Reposted by David Toews
finally: a comic so niche that only birders will understand
October 26, 2025 at 3:14 PM
finally: a comic so niche that only birders will understand