Extreme heat is threatening tropical birds, even in untouched forests, scientists warn

From the rainforests of Central and South America to the savannas of northern Australia, the world’s equatorial regions are home to thousands of unique bird species, from macaws to toucans to hummingbirds, who thrive in hot and humid environments.

But as climate change accelerates, tropical regions are seeing ten times the number of dangerously hot days than they did 40 years ago, threatening the survival of some of the world’s most colorful birds, new research shows.

Between 1950 and 2020, extreme heat events reduced tropical bird populations by 25% to 38%, according to a study published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution.

The study shows extreme heat events are a “primary driver of species loss” — which can explain why even bird populations in some of the most pristine corn