A new study shows extreme heat, fueled by climate change, has caused 25–38% decline in tropical bird populations since 1950. Researchers warn that even protected forests face major biodiversity losses as birds struggle to survive worsening heatwaves.

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• 25–38% tropical bird populations lost since 1950
• Study analysed 3,000 bird populations, 90,000 observations
• Extreme heat identified as biggest climate threat to birds
• Dangerous hot days now 10 times more frequent near equator
• Surviving birds risk organ failure, poor breeding, nest loss
• Climate impacts worse than human pressures like habitat loss
• Nearly half of global bird species live in tropics, major risk
• Findings call for urgent emission cuts, stronger habitat protection
• WMO warns extreme heat also hitting millions worldwide
• July 2025 third-warmest July globally, sea ice near record low