Research
Role of Vocal Communication in Puerto Rican Orioles
Puerto Rican Orioles are endemic to Puerto Rico and their behaviors and conservation status are significantly understudied. We previously documented that both sexes sing, but males and females sing different songs at different times of day. Current projects aims to determine the role of sex-specific song and incorporate improved knowledge of vocal behavior in future conservation management. This work is in collaboration with the Omland Lab at University of Maryland, Baltimore County and Para La Naturaleza.
Breeding Ecology and Migratory Pathways of the Prothonotary Warbler
Prothonotary Warblers are undeniably beautiful birds found across wetlands and bottomland swamps of the southern US. Unfortunately, their populations have been declining for the past several decades due to habitat loss, cowbird parasitism, and climate change. This species is of significant conservation concern in the state of Georgia, and our work aims to examine their breeding success as well as monitor their migratory pathways, so we can better protect the habitats they need in both the breeding and non-breeding seasons. This work is supported by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Recent Publications
Moreland, D.A.*, Raza, A.*, Brooks, O.R.*, Omland, K.E., Moyer, M.J. 2025. Lack of sex-specific syllables and high female song variability support relaxed selection on female song in Orchard Orioles (Icterus spurius). The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 1:13. https://doi.org/10.1080/15594491.2025.2512650
Moyer, M. J., M. D. Ocasio, E. F. Lehnert*, N. A. Nieves Colón, E. Osorio*, E., E. K. Bare*, A. Ponce de León Laguna, B. A. Molake*, M. J. Costas Sabatier, B. S. Evans, A. L. Morales Pérez, K. E. Omland. 2025. Acoustic features, syllable usage, and song rates of male and female song in a tropical island songbird, the Puerto Rican Oriole. Ethology e13534. https://doi.org/10.1111/eth.13534
Moyer, M. J., N. K. Neerchal, B. Lohr, J. Leips, E. Osorio*, E. K. Bare*, A. Raza*, B. A. Molake*, and K. E. Omland. 2024. Sex-specific responses to simulated territorial intrusions provide evidence for relaxed selection pressure on female song in Orchard Orioles. Journal of Field Ornithology 95(3):7. https://doi.org/10.5751/JFO-00499- 950307
Moyer, M. J., E. M. Rose, D. A. Moreland*, A. Raza*, S. M. Brown, A. L. Scarselletta*, B. Lohr, K. J. Odom, and K. E. Omland. 2022. Female song is structurally different from male song in Orchard Orioles, a temperate-breeding songbird with delayed plumage maturation. Journal of Field Ornithology 93(1):3. https://doi.org/10.5751/JFO-00073- 930103
Sikora, J. G.*, Moyer, M. J., Omland, K. E. and Rose E. M. 2021. Large female song repertoires and within-pair song type sharing in a temperate breeding songbird. Ethology 127:166-175. https://doi.org/10.1111/eth.13115
Moyer Lab - Georgia College 