Scientists Map the Complete Evolutionary History of All Known Bird Species

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Professor Emily Jane McTavish and a team from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology have created the most comprehensive evolutionary tree of birds to date, charting the relationships among every known bird species.

Drawing from nearly 300 studies published between 1990 and 2024, the researchers combined data on 9,239 bird species along with curated information on an additional 1,000 species. The result is a unified, dynamic database that can be easily updated as new findings emerge, making it a valuable tool for ongoing research in ornithology and evolutionary biology.

“People are passionate about birds, and there’s a wealth of scientific work being done on them,” said McTavish. “We brought all that information together into one cohesive framework.”

Their work, detailed in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, outlines the methods used to build the synthesis tree, which not only illuminates avian evolution but can also serve as a model for mapping the evolutionary histories of other organisms, including plants and non-avian animals.

The initiative began about four years ago when Eliot Miller, then at the Cornell Lab, approached McTavish, who had been developing software for the Open Tree of Life project—a collaborative effort aimed at assembling a comprehensive, up-to-date evolutionary tree for all named species.

“Each year, dozens of genetic studies on bird evolution are published, but their findings often don’t make it into broader analyses,” said Miller. “This project helps bridge that gap, ensuring that new discoveries are integrated into future research.”

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Although McTavish and Miller had not previously worked together, their expertise proved complementary. While Miller contributed his deep knowledge of birds and access to the lab's tools like the Merlin and eBird apps, McTavish brought her experience building software to merge evolutionary data.

The Open Tree of Life functions like a wiki for evolutionary relationships, enabling users to upload and revise data as scientific understanding evolves. With more than 2.5 million species currently represented and genome sequencing technology rapidly advancing, McTavish and her colleagues have also developed automated software to keep the tree updated in real time.

By merging a vast array of studies into a single framework, this bird tree of life not only enhances our understanding of avian evolution but also offers a model for similar efforts across the tree of life, helping scientists better understand the connections among all living organisms.