A tiny songbird called the black phoebe is trying to adapt to city life – and it’s not an easy job. They didn’t naturally evolve in the city, and they face different threats than they might in their natural habitat. Black phoebes may encounter tougher predators, more chemical pollution and hotter temperatures in the city. 

A new UC Davis Magazine feature story, “Flying High with the Black Phoebe Project” examines what UC Davis researchers are learning from these backyard birds. It could help us understand how to protect other bird species whose habitat is threatened by urban sprawl. 

The story also features the newly released Unfold episode, “Little Bird, Big City.” The sound-rich podcast episode follows three researchers in the field who are studying these birds both in natural habitats and urban environments. Unfold is a Signal Award-winning UC Davis podcast about science, innovation and discovery unfolded through storytelling. It’s available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, on your smart speaker or wherever you get your podcasts.

Experts featured:

• Sage Madden, UC Davis ecology Ph.D. student
• Jacob Johnson, UC Davis animal behavior Ph.D. student
• Ian Haliburton, UC Davis master’s candidate in animal behavior

Learn more about Project Phoebe.