Chemical Communication and Microbial Interactions in Avian Systems

Birds employ a rich repertoire of chemical signals, often mediated by volatile compounds produced by host-associated microbes or specialised glands, to navigate social, reproductive and defensive challenges. The uropygial gland secretes lipid-rich preen oil that is shaped by both host physiology and microbial consortia, yielding individual odour profiles used in mate choice, kin recognition and predator avoidance. Feather and nest microbiota further influence the chemical landscape of avian habitats, modulating pathogen loads, ectoparasite attraction and offspring survival. Recent advances integrate molecular microbiology, analytical chemistry and behavioural assays to reveal that interactions between microbial assemblages and chemical emissions underpin key ecological and evolutionary processes in birds. This emerging synthesis highlights the global significance of avian chemical–microbial networks for disease ecology, conservation and aviculture, and points towards practical applications in biosecurity and habitat management.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Studies have demonstrated that altricial chicks acquire and retain chemosensory familiarity with their genetic parents prior to hatching, revealing an unanticipated capacity for odour-based kin recognition. Experimental cross-fostering in a model passerine showed that hatchlings distinguish the odour of their genetic mother from that of a foster mother, indicating pre-hatching imprinting on maternal scent. This discovery underscores the role of microbial and glandular odour cues in early social bonding and raises new questions about the ontogeny of avian chemical communication.

Chemical Communication and Microbial Interactions in Avian Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in chemical communication and microbial interactions in avian systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Uropygial gland: A sebaceous gland at the base of the tail that produces preen oil, a complex lipid secretion involved in feather maintenance, waterproofing and odour signalling.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Low-molecular-weight molecules that readily evaporate at ambient temperatures and convey olfactory information in chemical communication.

Microbiota: The community of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms inhabiting a particular environment, such as feathers, skin or nest materials.

Chemosensory imprinting: Early developmental process by which an animal learns and retains specific chemical cues associated with kin or habitat.

Bacteriocin: A proteinaceous antimicrobial substance produced by bacteria that inhibits the growth of competing microbial strains, influencing microbial community structure.

References

1. Volatiles of symbiotic bacterial origin explain ectoparasitism and fledging success of hoopoes. Animal Microbiome (2024).
2. Does nest occupancy by birds influence the microbial composition?. Frontiers in Microbiology (2023).
3. Analytical characterization of volatiles present in the whole body odour of zebra finches. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (2024).
4. Zebra Finch chicks recognise parental scent, and retain chemosensory knowledge of their genetic mother, even after egg cross-fostering. Scientific Reports (2017).
5. Olfactory camouflage and communication in birds. Biological Reviews (2022).