hello tweeties,

as an evolutionary biologist and ornithologist, i was delighted to write about the amazing convergent evolution between the Honeyeaters of New Guinea and Australia and those of Hawai'i. Originally, the Honeyeaters all were classified into Meliphagidae due to their strong similarities in morphology, behavior and song, but now, thanks to modern DNA technology, the Hawai'ian "honeyeaters'" closest relatives have been discovered: the waxwings and phainopeplas of North America! There's much more to this fascinating story than meets the eye (obviously!), so be sure to read more about it here;

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/when_is_a_honeyeater_not_a_hon.php

the most recently demystified mystery bird was Marv Breece's photo of a Snow Bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis;

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_92.php

thanks to photographer, Joseph Kennedy, here's today's mystery bird for you to identify;

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_60.php

for those of you who, like me, wish to visit (or live in!) the south Pacific Islands, here's a picture of a resident of the Vanuatu archipelago that resembles a peppermint;

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/vanuatu_lobster.php

cheers,

GrrlScientist
Devorah
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/
Roosting high up a tree somewhere in Central Park, NYC