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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastic accumulation in the gastrointestinal tracts of nestling and adult migratory birds
ClearDifferences in microplastics in passerine feces across species, diet, and foraging location
Researchers analyzed fecal samples from five passerine bird species and found microplastics in all of them, with ground-foraging species carrying higher particle loads and insectivores ingesting more fragment-shaped particles than omnivores — suggesting that feeding behavior and habitat determine which bird species face the greatest microplastic exposure risk.
Microscopic anthropogenic waste ingestion by small terrestrial European passerines: evidence from finch and tit families
Researchers examined the stomachs and intestines of nine common European songbird species — finches and tits — to see how much microscopic waste they were ingesting. Of 149 birds tested, 31 contained particles including 7 confirmed microplastics (polyethylene, PET, and polystyrene), along with cellulosic fibers like cotton and rayon. Finches ingested more than tits, and ingestion rates were higher outside the breeding season. Because these small birds are prey for larger animals, they may be passing microplastics up the food chain.
Accumulation of microplastics in predatory birds near a densely populated urban area
Researchers found microplastics in every single digestive tract examined from four species of predatory birds near a major city, and 65% also had microplastics in their respiratory systems. On average, each bird contained about 8 microplastic particles, mostly fibers, likely ingested through contaminated prey. This is the first study to document microplastic contamination in the breathing organs of birds of prey, showing how plastic pollution moves up the food chain.
How do life history and behaviour influence plastic ingestion risk in Canadian freshwater and terrestrial birds?
Researchers examined 457 wild birds in Canada and found that about 5% had visible plastic debris in their digestive tracts, with non-raptor species being nine times more likely to ingest plastic than raptors. When they looked more closely at raptor intestines, they found microplastic particles in all 54 birds tested, even though few had larger plastic pieces. The study identifies certain bird species as potential sentinels for monitoring microplastic pollution in freshwater and land environments.
The Presence of Microplastics in the Gastrointestinal Tracts of Song Thrushes (Turdus philomelos) Wintering in Apulia (Southern Italy)—Preliminary Results
Song thrushes hunted in southern Italy were found to contain microplastic fibers, films, fragments, and pellets in their digestive tracts, in a preliminary study of a migratory bird species that travels widely across Europe. The findings add to growing evidence that microplastic contamination is pervasive in terrestrial wildlife and that migratory birds may transport plastics across large geographic areas.
Organ-level translocation and tissue-specific accumulation of micro- and nanoplastics in wild birds
Researchers quantified micro- and nanoplastic burdens across six tissues in ten wild bird species and found that smaller-bodied birds carried higher plastic loads. Nanoplastics showed greater ability to move into internal organs than larger microplastics, and plastic particles were detected in the brain, blood, lungs, and muscle tissue. The study suggests that blood plastic levels could serve as a proxy for internal organ contamination and positions wild birds as potential bioindicators for plastic pollution.
Tracing microplastics in environmental sources and migratory shorebirds along the Central Asian Flyway
Researchers tracked microplastic contamination along migratory bird routes in central Asia, testing mudflats, mangroves, and the birds themselves. They found microplastics in both the environment and the digestive tracts of shorebirds, showing that these pollutants are moving through coastal food webs and may be carried across continents by migrating birds.
Investigation of Microplastic Accumulation in the Gastrointestinal Tract in Birds of Prey
Microplastics and plastic-associated pollutants were found in the gastrointestinal tracts of birds of prey, confirming that plastic contamination is transferring up food chains to apex predators. This raises concerns about endocrine disruption and toxic accumulation in wildlife and potentially humans.
High microplastic pollution in birds of urban waterbodies revealed by non-invasively collected faecal samples
Researchers analyzed bird droppings from urban freshwater habitats in Germany and found microplastic particles, mainly fibers, in 98% of samples across all species studied. The pollution levels were substantially higher than those reported in other freshwater bird studies, likely reflecting the heavy contamination of urban waterways. Since all the investigated species are at least partially migratory, the findings suggest birds may transport microplastics over long distances.
Assessing microplastic and nanoplastic contamination in bird lungs: evidence of ecological risks and bioindicator potential
Researchers examined the lungs of 51 bird species and found microplastics in all of them, averaging over 400 particles per gram of lung tissue, with nanoplastics also detected in five species tested. Birds may serve as early warning indicators of airborne plastic pollution, and the widespread contamination of their lungs suggests that humans breathing the same air face similar exposure risks.
Exposure to microplastics by pelagic and coastal seabirds from temperate and tropical environments
Researchers examined microplastic exposure in pelagic and coastal seabird species from temperate and tropical marine environments, using the birds' broad spatial distribution and feeding behavior to assess microplastic distribution and concentration patterns across oceanic regions.
Plastics and other anthropogenic debris in freshwater birds from Canada.
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.
Microplastics presence in wild bird species through an environmental forensic lens
This study examined microplastic presence in wild bird species using an environmental forensics approach, finding plastic particles across multiple bird taxa in ecosystems ranging from urban to remote. The results highlight wild birds as both sentinels of and victims of plastic pollution.
Microplastic accumulation in various bird species in Turkey
Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in 12 bird species in Turkey, providing the first data of its kind for the country. They found microplastics in all species examined, with variations in particle types and concentrations across different birds. The study contributes to the growing evidence that microplastic pollution affects wildlife across diverse habitats and feeding strategies.
Documentation of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of terrestrial raptors in central California, USA
Researchers found microplastics in the digestive tracts of all 16 terrestrial raptors (hawks and owls) examined on California's central coast, averaging over 12 particles per bird. The study is significant because it shows microplastic contamination has spread into land-based food chains, not just aquatic ones, raising questions about how plastic pollution affects predatory bird populations.
Microplastic accumulation in the gastrointestinal tracts in birds of prey in central Florida, USA
Microplastics were found in the gastrointestinal tracts of all 63 birds of prey examined from eight species in central Florida, with an average of nearly 12 plastic pieces per bird and microfibers making up 86% of the total. Processed cellulose was the most common material identified, followed by PET and a polyamide blend.
The potential of aerial insectivores for monitoring microplastics in terrestrial environments
Researchers examined microplastic contamination in tree swallow chicks near a wastewater treatment plant and at a rural conservation area. They found anthropogenic microparticles, predominantly fibers, in nearly all chicks at both sites, suggesting that aerial insectivores could serve as useful biological monitors for tracking microplastic contamination in terrestrial environments.
Birds and plastic pollution: recent advances
This review summarizes how plastic pollution affects birds across both aquatic and terrestrial habitats, covering ingestion, entanglement, and chemical exposure from macro- and microplastics. Researchers found that hundreds of bird species have accumulated plastic in their tissues, with effects ranging from physical injury to hormonal disruption and reproductive harm. The study positions birds as valuable indicator species for monitoring the broader environmental impact of plastic pollution.
Species-specific accumulation of microplastics in different bird species from South China: A comprehensive analysis
Across 24 bird species in South China, insectivorous birds accumulated significantly more small microplastics (under 0.1 mm) than other feeding guilds, while piscivorous birds accumulated more large microplastics (over 1 mm). Diet source was a stronger predictor of microplastic contamination than trophic level or body weight, with polypropylene and PET as the dominant polymer types found.
The potential use of birds as bioindicators of suspended atmospheric microplastics and artificial fibers
Researchers examined two aerial bird species, the Common House Martin and Common Swift, as potential bioindicators of atmospheric microplastic pollution. They found microplastics and artificial fibers in both the digestive and respiratory systems of the birds, suggesting these airborne-feeding species are regularly exposed to suspended plastic particles. The study proposes that monitoring microplastics in aerial birds could provide valuable data on atmospheric plastic contamination levels.
Birds as bioindicators of plastic pollution in terrestrial and freshwater environments: A 30-year review
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.
Birds as Bioindicators: Revealing the Widespread Impact of Microplastics
This systematic review found microplastics in over 200 bird species across the globe, from Antarctica to South Europe. Birds can suffer gut damage, oxidative stress, and toxic chemical buildup from ingesting plastics — a warning sign for broader ecosystem and food chain contamination that could affect humans too.
Widespread microplastic and nanoplastic contamination in the intestines of birds: A case study from Chengdu, China
Researchers found microplastics and nanoplastics in the intestines of 49 bird species in Chengdu, China, with PVC and chlorinated polyethylene being the most common types. Nanoplastics, which are harder to detect and potentially more harmful, were confirmed in five species using advanced analytical methods. The widespread contamination across many bird species suggests that microplastic pollution has thoroughly penetrated terrestrial food webs, not just marine environments.
Availability and assessment of microplastic ingestion by marsh birds in Mississippi Gulf Coast tidal marshes
Microplastics were found in the gastrointestinal tracts of marsh birds from tidal marshes along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, with ingestion rates and particle types reflecting both direct feeding on contaminated prey and incidental consumption from the environment.