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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastic Pollution in Urban Birds: A Comparative Study of Rock, Columba livia, and Corvus splendens
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.
Microplastics in Urban Bird Feces: A Methodological Approach and Case Study in Mexico City
Researchers analyzed pigeon droppings from three sites in Mexico City and found 16 to 28 microplastic particles per gram, mostly fragments of polystyrene and polyethylene smaller than 1 millimeter. The study developed a reliable method for extracting microplastics from organic material with a 93% recovery rate. Urban birds like pigeons can serve as indicators of microplastic pollution levels in cities, reflecting the contamination that humans in those same areas are also exposed to.
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.
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.
Using feral pigeon (Columba livia) to monitor anthropogenic debris in urban areas: a case study in Taiwan's capital city
Analysis of 46 feral pigeon carcasses from Taipei found 224 pieces of anthropogenic debris, 71.9% fibers, primarily polyethylene (20.5%), demonstrating that urban birds ingest microplastics and can serve as terrestrial bioindicators 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.
Using feral pigeon (Columba livia) to monitor anthropogenic debris in urban areas: a case study in Taiwan’s capital city
Researchers collected gastrointestinal tracts from 46 feral pigeon carcasses in Taipei, Taiwan, and characterized 224 anthropogenic debris items found in them. Polyethylene fibers (20.5%) dominated, followed by anthropogenic cellulose, with 71.9% of debris being fibers and black being the most common color, demonstrating that feral pigeons can be useful bioindicators of terrestrial MP pollution in urban environments.
Urban waterbirds shifting microplastics
Researchers found microplastics in the feces of two urban waterbird species in Kerala, India, with polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene being the most common types. Both juvenile and adult birds were affected equally, suggesting that waterbirds can transport microplastics through ecosystems and serve as indicators of local plastic waste levels in freshwater environments.
Ingestion of Unusual Items by Wetland Birds in Urban Landscapes
Researchers surveyed regurgitated pellets from colonial wetland birds in two Indian cities, finding that over half of pellets in Coimbatore contained rubber bands, rubber balloons, and small plastic debris, demonstrating widespread ingestion of anthropogenic litter by urban birds.
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.
Microplastic accumulation in the gastrointestinal tracts of nestling and adult migratory birds
Researchers examined microplastic accumulation in the gastrointestinal tracts of both nestling and adult migratory birds across six species, finding widespread plastic ingestion with fibers predominating, suggesting that microplastic exposure begins early in avian life stages.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Characterization of plastic ingestion in urban gull chicks and its implications for their use as pollution sentinels in coastal cities
Researchers examined the stomach contents of 56 yellow-legged gull chicks in Barcelona and found microplastics in 100% of the birds, with larger plastic pieces in about 20%. The chicks ingested plastics from their urban coastal environment, mostly fragments and fibers from common consumer plastics. This study shows how urban wildlife can serve as indicators of plastic pollution levels and highlights the widespread contamination of coastal food webs that humans also depend on.
Thrushes (Aves: Passeriformes) as indicators of microplastic pollution in terrestrial environments
Researchers examined thrushes (songbirds) as sentinel species for terrestrial microplastic pollution, finding MPs in digestive tracts of birds sampled from multiple habitats. The study supports using thrushes as bioindicators of land-based plastic contamination, given their broad distribution and feeding behaviors that bring them into contact with soil and invertebrates.
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.
Microplastic abundance in gull nests in relation to urbanization
Microplastic counts in herring gull and great black-backed gull nests at three US colonies showed higher proportions of microplastics in urban nests than in remote ones, linking urbanization to greater microplastic accumulation in coastal bird nesting habitats.
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.
A methodology for the sampling and identification of microplastics in bird nests
Researchers developed and tested a green (chemical-free) method to extract and identify microplastics from bird nests, finding an average of 250 microplastic items per nest in urban Great-tailed grackle nests, mostly synthetic polyethylene and polypropylene fibers. Bird nests offer a practical, non-invasive way to monitor microplastic contamination in urban and terrestrial environments.