According to a study, heat extremes brought on by climate change have wiped off 25–38% of tropical bird populations since 1950. According to a study posted on the University of Queensland website, exposure to high heat is the most climatic threat to birds, particularly in tropical regions, even though variations in rainfall and average temperature have some effect. Using a dataset of 90,000 observations from each continent, researchers from Australia and Europe examined over 3,000 bird populations between 1950 and 2020. The article states that they used weather data to distinguish between the effects of climate change and human pressures such as habitat loss.
Researchers have discovered that the frequency of extremely hot days for birds in tropical places has increased by almost ten times. Because excessive heat degrades physical condition, restricts feeding, strains eggs and chicks, and can result in dehydration or nest abandonment, the study found that surviving birds may experience long-term harm, such as organ failure and decreased breeding success. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) warns of extreme heat impacting millions worldwide, with wildfires and poor air quality contributing. The WMO emphasizes early warning and heat-health action plans, with July 2025 being the third-warmest globally.
