We investigated the phylogenetic relationships among the major lineages of the avian family Sturnidae and their placement within the Muscicapoidea clade using two nuclear (RAG-1 and myoglobin) and one mitochondrial gene (ND2). Among Muscicapoidea, we recovered three clades corresponding to the families Cinclidae, Muscicapidae and Sturnidae (sensu [Sibley, C.G., Monroe Jr., B.L., 1990. Distribut...

While this may be true in many passerines, mainly ground-nesting species with short fledgling periods, we show here that prevalences may be detected as early as 13 days of age in a cavity-nesting passerine. Prevalences and intensities of hematozoa in nestling birds may merit further study, as both parameters are relatively easy to quantify in smears of peripheral blood in bird species such as t...

Parasites may lead bird species to extinction, affect host temporal and spatial population dynamics, alter community structure and alter individual' social status. We evaluated blood parasite prevalence and intensity according to bird families and species, among 925 birds that were caught in 2000 and 2001, in the Atlantic Forest in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. We applied Giemsa staining t...