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Publication results by year from January 1999 to December 2024 from a Web of Science records search.
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This figure documents the rapid growth of avian microplastic research by showing annual publication counts from Web of Science searches combining bird or avian terms with microplastic from 1999 to 2024.
Search criteria included (keyword, title, abstract) using the terms “bird” or “avian” and “microplastic”. Note that Web of Science does not search all academic journals. Created with biorender.com.
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Microplastics and terrestrial birds: a review on plastic ingestion in ecological linchpins
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Researchers reviewed how microplastic pollution affects terrestrial birds — key ecological indicators — finding documented harms including intestinal blockage and developmental disruption, with implications for entire food webs since birds that ingest plastics can concentrate and transfer contamination to other species, including humans.
Birds as bioindicators of plastic pollution in terrestrial and freshwater environments: A 30-year review
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This 30-year review of 106 studies examines how birds in freshwater and land environments are affected by plastic pollution. Most research has focused on larger plastic pieces, while microplastic exposure in these bird species is understudied and nanoplastic exposure has not been investigated at all. The authors urge researchers to develop standardized methods for measuring small plastic particles in birds, which could serve as valuable warning signs of plastic pollution across ecosystems.
A review of microplastic presence in birds: Research advances and socioeconomic contexts
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This review pulls together studies on microplastics found in birds worldwide, showing that these tiny plastic particles are widespread in bird species — but scientists are studying this problem mostly in wealthy, well-funded countries rather than the places with the most plastic pollution. Since birds share our air, water, and food sources, their exposure to microplastics is a warning sign for what humans may also be ingesting, and this research gap means we're missing critical data on contamination in the areas where it may matter most. Closing this gap could help scientists better understand — and eventually reduce — human exposure to microplastics through the environment and food chain.
Differential microplastic contamination of waterbirds in a coastal region associated with trophic groups and spatial distribution
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A study of waterbird feces in southern Brazil found that shorebirds feeding in sediments had far higher microplastic loads than fish-eating birds, and contamination was worst near urban areas, with polyester and PVC the most common polymers detected. Trophic position and proximity to cities both shape how much plastic wildlife ingests, providing a natural monitoring system for tracking coastal microplastic pollution.
Plastics and other anthropogenic debris in freshwater birds from Canada.
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This study quantified plastic debris ingestion in 17 freshwater and one marine bird species across Canada, finding that over 11% of individuals had ingested anthropogenic debris. The results show that plastic pollution in freshwater environments affects birds at rates comparable to marine species, highlighting the need to extend plastic pollution monitoring beyond the ocean.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.