Der Schnabelwulst des Stars (Sturnus vulgaris L.)

Shape from shading in starlings (Sturnus vulgaris).

Birds behave as if they quickly and accurately perceive an object-filled visual world. Beyond the extensive research with pigeons, however, there is a large and important gap in our knowledge about the mechanisms of object perception and recognition in other avian visual systems. The pattern of shading reflected from the surfaces of objects is one important optical feature that provides fundame...

The phase response of primary auditory afferents in a songbird (Sturnus vulgaris L.).

The effects of stimulus frequency and intensity on phase-locking characteristics of cochlear ganglion cells were studied in the starling. All cells showed phase-locking to tone stimuli within their response area. Phase-locking at CF is found on average 9 dB below discharge rate threshold. Phase-locking is best at 0.4 kHz and deteriorates with increasing frequency almost independently of CF. No ...

Embryonic modulation of maternal steroids in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris).

In birds, maternally derived yolk steroids are a proposed mechanism by which females can adjust individual offspring phenotype to prevailing conditions. However, when interests of mother and offspring differ, parent-offspring conflict will arise and embryonic interests, not those of the mother, should drive offspring response to maternal steroids in eggs. Because of this potential conflict, we ...

Heat transfer from starlings sturnus vulgaris during flight

Infrared thermography was used to measure heat transfer by radiation and the surface temperature of starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) (N=4) flying in a wind tunnel at 6-14 m s-1 and at 15-25 degrees C. Heat transfer by forced convection was calculated from bird surface temperature and biophysical modelling of convective heat transfer coefficients. The legs, head and ventral brachial areas (under the...

Pollutants affect development in nestling starlings Sturnus vulgaris