60 percent of bird species came from Australia

All perching birds—the majority of the world’s bird population—originated in Australia, researchers report.

more…

Tau.Neutrino said:

60 percent of bird species came from Australia

All perching birds—the majority of the world’s bird population—originated in Australia, researchers report.

more…

“They analyzed DNA data from the 137 families of perching birds. Some of the museum samples the researchers used were up to 100 years old. “Previous studies only looked at one or a few genes,” says Edward Braun, a professor of biology at the University of Florida. “What makes this study unique is one, the broad sampling across the genome, and two, the comprehensive nature in that we captured all major groups of perching birds. The third factor is the integration of the fossil records and biogeography, along with the comprehensive genomic sampling.”

From https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2019/03/26/1813206116

Hmm, this figure is enlightening. Have a look at the red squares next to the passeri groups. Red squares represent Australia.

unexpected

dv said:

unexpected

Agree.

When it comes down to it, it makes sense. Apart from the “tyrant flycatchers”, sparrows and a few corvids, almost all the passerines are found in Australia.

Also, according to wikipedia, and this is unconfirmed, the earliest passerine fossils come from Murgon in Qld.

dv said:

unexpected

I wasn’t surprised since birdsong also originated here.