A new study in Nature Communications finds that birds with large brains or wide geographic ranges may still face high risk from climate change. Researchers analyzed 1,500 bird species and discovered that climate specialization, not range size or intelligence, is the key vulnerability.

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• Study analyzed 1,500 bird species to assess climate risk
• Found birds in large areas may still face extinction risk
• Wide range ≠ climate adaptability; many birds adapt to narrow climates
• Arctic birds like Bohemian Waxwing live in vast area but narrow climate zone
• Waxwings more threatened than birds in smaller but diverse zones
• Birds with bigger brains more flexible, but often climate specialists
• Specialists thrive in specific climates, struggle with change
• Regions with extreme temperatures/precipitation = higher risk
• Core regions milder, edge zones harsher and riskier
• Findings help conservationists identify high-risk bird species