Because groups that experience similar weather, had similar bird sizes, were closer together or were more related to each other, did not build structures with similar morphology we suggest that social interactions explain why different groups of birds have their own architectural styles.

After measuring hundreds of structures, we found that groups of birds that build only meters apart, build structures that are different. Some groups build structures with long tubes and others with short tubes.

These structures (roosts and nests) are built by cooperative breeding white-browed sparrow weavers.

Look past the attention-grabbing giraffe and look at the wonderful pompom-like structures on these Kalahari trees.

Look past the attention-grabbing giraffe and look at the wonderful pompom-like structures on these Kalahari trees.

And if you want the tl;dr, NPR did a pretty cool piece on this work 😉: www.npr.org/2024/08/29/n...