Birds dazzle us with an extraordinary variety of colors and songs, signals that play a major role in how they communicate, attract mates, and evolve. Yet even after decades of research, many mysteries remain. Why do some males adopt drab plumage that makes them look more like females, despite the advantage of brighter colors in courtship? How do songs and plumage patterns influence not only the formation of new species, but also unexpected connections between them? These are some of the questions Dr. Mike Webster— Robert G. Engle Professor of Ornithology and director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Macaulay Library—will explore at the upcoming 2025 Paul C. Mundinger Distinguished Lectureship.  

Date and Time: October 16, 2025, at 5:30 PM 
Location: Room B25, Warren Hall, on the Cornell University campus and streamed live.  
Title: Feathers Down Under: Exploring the evolution of sexual signals in Australian fairywrens 
This lecture is free and open to the public. 

Read more about Dr. Webster and the event in the news room on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website.