BIRDBASE: a global dataset of avian biogeography, conservation, ecology and life history traits

Abstract

Trait datasets play a crucial role in advancing ecological, biogeographical and evolutionary studies and in prioritizing global conservation efforts. Birds are the best-known major group of organisms and comprise excellent environmental indicators. With their diverse traits, birds offer valuable insights into the provisioning of critical ecological functions and how animals adapt to global change. BIRDBASE is a global avian trait dataset that provides an up-to-date compilation of ecological traits for all birds. With 78 traits from 11,589 bird species in 254 families, and data on 6%–16% more species than the previous avian trait datasets, BIRDBASE includes all the bird species recognized by the four major avian taxonomies. BIRDBASE is also the first avian trait dataset that covers all the species in AviList, the new unified global avian checklist. As the most comprehensive avian trait dataset, BIRDBASE will enable new meta-analyses in ornithology, conservation biology and macroecology, expand our ability to understand the origins and maintenance of biodiversity, help quantify avian responses to global change, and inform international conservation efforts.