Personal details
Jesús M. Avilés
Tenured scientist
Telephone: +34 950281045 (ext. 213)
Fax: +34 950277100
e-mail: javiles@eeza.csic.es
Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
Carretera de Sacramento s/n
E-04120 La Cañada de San Urbano
Almería, Spain
Research interest
My research interest lies in evolutionary ecology of birds in a wide context. I use birds as model systems for investigating sensory ecology and communication, co-evolution and use of social information. My work involves both field experiments and comparative analyses.
Specific research interests include:
- Coevolutionary interactions between avian brood parasites and their hosts.
- The evolution of egg colour and patterning in birds.
- The evolution of nestling colour designs in birds.
- Animal colouration.
- Visual ecology of birds.
- Parent-offspring communication.
- Sexual selection and mate choice.
- Social information use in birds.
- Roller and crane conservation.
Opportunities
Potencial PhD students and post-docs are welcome to contact me, and suggestions regarding areas of work or projects are encouraged. These should normally be related to my key interest, but other ideas are welcome. Undergraduates looking for summer project work can contact me about possibilities.
Publications
Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Avilés, J.M.,Cuervo, J.J.,Parejo, D.,Ruano, F.,Zamora-Muñoz, C.,Sergio, F.,López-Jiménez, L.,Tanferna, A.,Martín-Vivaldi, M. 2013. Does avian conspicuous colouration increase or reduce predation risk?. Oecologia, 173, 83-93.
Soler, J.J.,Avilés, J.M.,Møller, A.P.,Moreno,J. 2012. Attractive blue egg coloration and cuckoo-host coevolution. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 106:154-168.
Parejo, D.,Avilés, J.M. 2011. Predation risk determines breeding territory choice in a Mediterranean cavity-nesting bird community. Oecologia, 165:185-191..
Cuervo, J.J.,Soler, J.J.,Avilés, J.M.,Pérez-Contreras, T.,Navarro, C. 2011. Experimental feeding affects the relationship between hematocrit and body weight in spotless starling (Sturnus unicolor) nestlings. Journal of Ornithology, 152: 201-206.
Parejo, D.,Silva, N.,Danchin, E.,Avilés, J.M. 2011. Informative content of melanin-based plumage colour in adult Eurasian kestrels. Journal of Avian Biology, 00:000-000.
Avilés, J.M.,Vikan, J. R.,Fossøy, F.,Antonov, A.,Moksnes, A.,Røskaft, E.,Shykoff, J. A.,Møller, A. P.,Jensen, H.,Procházka, P.,Stokke, B. G. 2011. Common cuckoos are not locally adapted to their reed warbler hosts. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 24: 314–325.
Avilés, J.M.,Parejo, D.,Rodríguez, J. 2011. Parental favouritism strategies in the asynchronously hatching European Roller (Coracias garrulus). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, (en prensa).
Avilés, J.M.,Soler, J. J.,Hart, N. 2011. Sexual selection based on egg colour: Physiological models and egg discrimination experiments in a cavity-nesting bird. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, (en prensa).
Navarro, C.,Pérez-Contreras, T.,Avilés, J.M.,McGraw, K.,Soler, J. J. 2011. Blue-green eggshell coloration reflects yolk antioxidant content in spotless starlings (Sturnus unicolor). Journal of Avian Biology, (en prensa).
Avilés, J.M.,Soler, J.J.,Hart, N. 2011. Sexual selection based on egg colour: physiological models and egg discrimination experiments in a cavity-nesting bird. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 65: 1721-1730.
Navarro, C.,Pérez-Contreras, T.,Avilés, J.M.,McGraw, K.J.,Soler, J.J. 2011. Blue-green eggshell coloration reflects yolk antioxidant content in spotless starlings Sturnus unicolor. Journal of Avian Biology, 42: 538-543.
Navarro, C.,Pérez-Contreras, T.,Avilés, J.M.,McGraw, K.,Soler, J.J. 2010. Beak colour reflects circulating carotenoid and vitamin A levels in spotless starlings (Sturnus unicolor). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 64,1057–1067.
Soler, J.J.,Avilés, J.M. 2010. Sibling competition and conspicuousness of nestling gapes in altricial birds. A comparative study. Plos One, 5:e10509.
Avilés, J.M.,Vikan, J,Fossøy, F.,Antonov, A.,Mosknes, A.,Røskaft, E.,Stokke, B. G. 2010. Avian colour perception predicts behavioural responses to experimental brood parasitism in chaffinches. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 23, 293–301.
Avilés, J.M.,Soler, J.J. 2010. Nestling coloration is adjusted to parent visual performance in altricial birds irrespective of assumptions on vision system for Laniidae and owls, a reply to Renoult et al.. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 23, 228-230.
Parejo, D.,Silva, N.,Avilés, J.M.,Danchin, E. 2010. Developmental plasticity varied with sex and position in hatching hierarchy in nestlings of the asynchronous European roller. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 99, 500-511.
Parejo, D.,Avilés, J.M.,Rodríguez, J. 2010. Visual cues and parental favouritism in a nocturnal bird. Biology Letters, 6, 171-173.
Avilés, J.M.,Parejo, D.,Pérez-Contreras, T.,Navarro, C.,Soler, J.J. 2010. Do spotless starlings place feathers at their nests by ultraviolet colour?. Naturwinschaften, 97, 181-186.
Avilés, J.M.,Pérez-Contreras, T.,Navarro, C.,Soler, J.J. 2009. Male spotless starlings adjust feeding effort based on egg spots revealing ecto-parasite load. Animal Behaviour, 78: 993-999.
Avilés, J.M.,Moskat, C.,Ban, M.,Hargitai, R.,Parejo, D. 2009. Common cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) do not rely on indicators of parental abilities when searching for host nests: the importance of host defences. Auk, 126: 431-438..
Avilés, J.M.,Soler, J.J. 2009. Nestling coloration is adjusted to parent visual performance in altricial birds. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 22: 376-386.
Moskat, C.,Hauber, M. E.,Avilés, J.M.,Ban, M.,Hargitai, R.,Honza, M. 2009. Increased host tolerance of multiple cuckoo eggs leads to higher fledging success of brood parasites. Animal Behaviour, 77: 1281-1290.
Silva, N.,Avilés, J.M.,Danchin, E.,Parejo, D. 2008. Informative content of multiple plumage coloured traits in female and male European Rollers. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 62:1969-1979.
Avilés, J.M. 2008. Egg colour mimicry in the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus as revealed by modelling host retinal function. Proceedings Royal Society of London B, 275: 2345-2352.
Moskat, C.,Avilés, J.M.,Ban, M.,Hargitai, R.,Zölei, A. 2008. Experimental support for the use of egg uniformity in parasite egg discrimination by cuckoo hosts. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 62:1885-1890.
Parejo, D.,Danchin, E.,Silva, N.,White, J.,Dreiss, A.,Avilés, J.M. 2008. Do great tits rely on inadvertent social information produced by blue tits? A habitat selection experiment. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 62:1569–1579.
Solís, E.,Avilés, J.M.,Valencia, J.,de la Cruz, C.,Sorci, G 2008. Winter male plumage coloration correlates with breeding status in a cooperative breeding species. Behavioural Ecology, 19:391–397.
Soler, J.J.,Navarro, C.,Pérez-Contreras, T.,Avilés, J.M.,Cuervo, J.J. 2008. Sexually selected egg coloration in spotless starlings. American Naturalist, 171: 183-194.
Avilés, J.M.,Soler, J.J.,Navarro, C.,Pérez-Contreras, T. 2008. Dark nests and nestling conspicuousness in color patterns of altricial birds. American Naturalist, 171:327-338.
Avilés, J.M.,Solís, E.,Valencia, J.,de la Cruz, C.,Sorci, G 2008. Female and male plumage brightness correlate with nesting failure in azure-winged magpies. Journal of Avian Biology, 39: 257-261.
Parejo, D.,Pérez-Contreras, T.,Navarro, C.,Soler, J.J.,Avilés, J.M. 2008. Spotless starlings rely on public information while visiting conspecific nests: an experiment. Animal Behaviour, 75: 483-488.
Parejo, D.,Avilés, J.M. 2007. Do avian brood parasites eavesdrop on heterospecific sexual signals revealing host quality? A review of the evidence. Animal Cognition, 10:81–88.
Parejo, D.,Silva, N.,Avilés, J.M. 2007. Within-brood size differences affect innate and acquired immunity in roller nestlings. Journal of Avian Biology, 38: 717-725.
Avilés, J.M.,Bednekoff, P. A. 2007. How do vigilance and feeding by common cranes depend on age, habitat, and flock size?. Journal of Avian Biology, 38: 690-697.
Avilés, J.M.,Garamszegi, L. Z. 2007. Egg rejection and brain size among potential hosts of the common cuckoo. Ethology, 113: 562-572.
Avilés, J.M.,Stokke, B. G.,Moksnes, A.,Roskaft, E.,Moller, A. P. 2007. Environmental conditions influence egg colour of reed warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus and their parasite, the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 61: 475-485.
Soler, J.J.,Avilés, J.M.,Cuervo, J.J.,Pérez-Contreras, T. 2007. Is the relation between colour and immune response mediated by nutritional condition in spotless starling nestlings?. Animal Behaviour, 74: 1139-1145.
Garamszegi, L. Z.,Eens, M.,Pavlova, D. Z.,Avilés, J.M.,Moller, A. P. 2007. A comparative study of the function of heterospecific vocal mimicry in European passerines. Behavioural Ecology, 18: 1001-1009.
Rutila, J.,Jokimäki, J.,Avilés, J.M.,Kaisanlahti-Jokimäki´, M. L. 2006. Responses of currently parasitized and unparasitized common redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) populatons against artificial cuckoo parasitism.. Auk, 123: 259-265.
Avilés, J.M.,Soler, J.J.,Pérez-Contreras, T. 2006. Dark nests and egg colour in birds: a possible functional role of ultraviolet reflectance in egg detectability. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, B, 273: 2821–2829.
Avilés, J.M.,Stokke, B.G.,Parejo, D. 2006. Relationship between nest predation suffered by hosts and brown-headed cowbird parasitism: a comparative study. Evolutionary Ecology, 20: 97-111.
Avilés, J.M.,Stokke, B. G.,Moksnes, A.,Roskaft, E.,Moller, A. P. 2006. Rapid increase in cuckoo egg matching in a recently parasitized reed warbler population. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 19: 1901-1910.
Avilés, J.M.,Parejo, D. 2006. Nest defense by Iberian azure-winged magpies (Cyanopica cyanus): do they recognize the threat of brood parasitism?. Ethology, Ecology and Evolution, 18: 321-333.
Avilés, J.M.,Stokke, B. G.,Moksnes, A.,Roskaft, E.,Moller, A. P. 2006. Nest predation and the evolution of egg appearance in passerine birds in Europe and North America. Evolutionary Ecology Research, 8: 493-513.
Avilés, J.M.,Soler, J.J.,Pérez-Contreras, T.,Soler M.,Møller A.P. 2006. Ultraviolet reflectance of great spotted cuckoo eggs and egg discrimination by magpies. Behavioural Ecology, 17(2): 310-314.
Avilés, J.M. 2006. Carraca (Coracias garrulus).
Parejo, D.,Nuñez, J. C.,Ferrero, J. J.,González, G.,Avilés, J.M. 2005. Proporción de sexos en polladas de cernícalo primilla Falco naumanni: Reproductores más viejos prefieren producir hembras. Conservación de la naturaleza en Extremadura., Pg. 383-388.
Avilés, J.M.,Rutila, J.,Moller, A. P. 2005. Should the redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) accept or reject cuckoo eggs?. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 58: 608-617.
Soler, J.J.,Moreno, J.,Avilés, J.M.,Møller, A.P. 2005. Blue and green egg color intensity is associated with parental effort and mating system in passerines: support for the sexual selection hypothesis.. Evolution, 59(3): 636-644.
Garamszegi, L. Z.,Avilés, J.M. 2005. Brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds and the expression of sexual characters in their hosts. Oecologia, 143: 167-177.
Parejo, D.,Danchin, E.,Avilés, J.M. 2005. The hetero-specific habitat copying hypothesis: can competitors indicate habitat quality?. Behavioural Ecology, 16: 96-105.
Avilés, J.M. 2004. Egg rejection by Iberian azure-winged magpies in absence of brood parasitism. Journal of Avian Biology, 35: 295-299.
Avilés, J.M.,Parejo, D. 2004. Farming practices and Roller Coracias garrulus conservation in south-west Spain. Bird Conservation International, 14:173-181.
Avilés, J.M.,Moller, A. P. 2004. How host egg mimicry is maintained in the cuckoo Cuculus canorus?. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 82: 57-68.
Avilés, J.M. 2004. Common cranes Grus grus and habitat management in holm oak dehesas of Spain. Biodiversity and Conservation, 13: 2015-2025.
Avilés, J.M.,Soler, J.J.,Soler, M,Møller, A.P. 2004. Rejection of parasitic eggs in relation to egg appearance in magpies. Animal Behaviour, 67: 951-958.
Avilés, J.M.,Folch, A. 2004. La Carraca Coracias garrulus. Libro Rojo de los Vertebrados de España., Pg. 297-298.
Soler, J.J.,Avilés, J.M.,Soler, M.,Møller, A.P. 2003. Evolution of host egg mimicry in a brood parasite, the great spotted cuckoo. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 79(4): 551-563.
Avilés, J.M.,Fuentes, C.,Parejo, D. 2003. Biometría de los pollos de Carraca Coracias garrulus en la comarca de la Serena, Badajoz. Anuario Ornitológico Extremeño, 2: 73-76.
Parejo, D.,Avilés, J.M.,Rivera, D.,Casas, J. M.,Flores, M. 2003. Dieta invernal del aguilucho pálido (Circus cyaneus) en una localidad extremeña. Anuario Ornitológico Extremeño, 2: 57-62.
Avilés, J.M.,Moller, A. P. 2003. Meadow pipits (Anthus pratensis) egg appearance in cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) sympatric and allopatric populations. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 79: 543-549.
Avilés, J.M. 2003. Time budget and habitat use of the Common Crane Grus grus wintering in dehesas of southwest Spain. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 81: 1233-1238.
Avilés, J.M.,Medina, F. J.,Sánchez-Guzmán, J. M.,Parejo, D. 2002. Does temporal variability of winter common cranes in the dehesas depend on farming practices?. Waterbirds, 25: 86-92.
Avilés, J.M.,Sánchez-Guzmán, J. M.,Parejo, D. 2002. Food selection of wintering common cranes (Grus Grus) in Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) dehesas of Southwest of Spain in a rainy season. Journal of Zoology, 256: 71-79.
Avilés, J.M.,Parejo, D. 2002. Diet and prey type selection by rollers (Coracias garrulus) during the breeding season in southwestern Iberian Peninsula. Alauda, 70: 227-230.
Avilés, J.M.,Sánchez-Guzmán, J. M.,Parejo, D. 2001. Nest-boxes used by Eurasian kestrels Falco tinnunculus are preferred by rollers Coracias garrulus.. Folia Zoologica, 50: 317-320.
Parejo, D.,Avilés, J.M.,Ferrero, J. J.,Rivera, D. 2001. Communal roosting and diet of Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus wintering in the southwest of Spain. Journal Raptor Research, 35: 162-164.
Parejo, D.,Sánchez-Guzmán, J. M.,Avilés, J.M. 2001. Breeding biology of the Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis in the Southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Bird Study, 48: 367-372..
Avilés, J.M.,Sánchez-Guzmán, J. M.,Parejo, D. 2001. Breeding rates of the Eurasian kestrel Falco tinnunculus in relation to the habitat around nests in the southwest of Spain. Journal Raptor Research, 35: 31-34.
Parejo, D.,Sánchez-Guzmán, J. M.,Avilés, J.M. 2001. Breeding biology of the Black-Crowned Nigh Heron Nycticorax Nycticorax in the Southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Ardeola, 48: 19-25.
Parejo, D.,Sánchez-Guzmán, J. M.,Avilés, J.M. 2001. Breeding biology of the Little Egret Egretta garzetta in the Southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Ornis Fennica, 78:31-38.
Avilés, J.M.,Sánchez-Guzmán, J. M.,Parejo, D. 2000. The Roller Coracias garrulus in Extremadura SW of Spain does not show a preference for breeding in clean nest-boxes. Bird Study, 47: 252-254.
Avilés, J.M.,Sánchez-Guzmán, J. M.,Parejo, D. 2000. Nest-site selection and breeding success in the Roller Coracias garrulus in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Journal für Ornithologie, 141: 345-350.
Avilés, J.M.,Sánchez-Guzmán, J. M.,Sánchez, A. 2000. Breeding biology of Kestrel Falco tinnunculus in steppes of the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Journal of Raptor Research, 12: 45-48.
Avilés, J.M.,Sánchez-Guzmán, J. M. 2000. Incubation period and weather conditions in a Roller Coracias garrulus population from south-west Iberian Peninsula. Alauda, 68: 67-68.
Parejo, D.,Sánchez-Guzmán, J. M.,Avilés, J.M. 2000. Differences in reproductive performance in two colonies of Egrets in two areas with different human influence. Avocetta, 24: 121-124.
Avilés, J.M.,Muñoz, A.,Fuentes, C.,Parejo, D. 2000. Importancia de las zonas húmedas extremeñas en la ruta de migración occidental de aves acuáticas. Anuario Ornitológico Extremeño, 1: 35-42.
Avilés, J.M.,Parejo, D.,Fuentes, C. 2000. Selección de presas aportadas a pollos de Carraca (Coracias garrulus) en una zona mediterránea. Anuario Ornitológico Extremeño, 1: 71-74.
Avilés, J.M.,Sánchez, A. 2000. Avian responses to nest-box installation in steppes of the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula (Extremadura). Avocetta, 24: 51-54.
Avilés, J.M.,Sánchez-Guzmán, J. M. 1999. Uncommon helper behaviour in the Roller Coracias garrulus. Alauda, 67: 75-76.
Avilés, J.M.,Sánchez-Guzmán, J. M.,Sánchez, A. 1999. Egg dimensions of the Roller Coracias garrulus in farming areas of the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Avocetta, 23: 28-31.
Avilés, J.M.,Parejo, D.,Lavado, F. 1999. Análisis mediante escuchas de la distribución de Pelodytes punctatus en la provincia de Badajoz. Boletín de la Asociación Herpetológica Española, 10: 14-16.
Avilés, J.M.,Parejo, D. 1999. Descripción de las agrupaciones de aves limícolas (Charadrii) en un embalse del centro de la península ibérica durante un ciclo anual: zonas interiores vs. zonas litorales. Miscelanea Zoologica, 22: 1-10.
Avilés, J.M.,Sánchez-Guzmán, J. M.,Sánchez, A.,Parejo, D. 1999. Breeding biology of Roller Coracias garrulus l. 1758 in farming areas of the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Bird Study, 46: 217-223.
Parejo, D.,Sánchez-Guzmán, J. M.,Avilés, J.M. 1999. Factors affecting the nest location of three ardeidae species in heronries in the south west of Spain.. Ardeola, 46: 227-230.
Avilés, J.M. 1999. Distribución de la Carraca (Coracias garrulus) nidificante en España. Ardeola, 46: 223-226.
Sánchez-Guzmán, J. M.,Avilés, J.M.,Medina, F. J. 1998. Status and trends of the Common Crane Grus grus in the western route. Bird Conservation International, 8: 269-279.
Avilés, J.M. 1998. Détermination de l’age des poussins de Rollier d’Europe Coracias garrulus. Alauda, 66: 313-314.
Avilés, J.M.,Sánchez-Guzmán, J. M.,Medina, F. J. 1998. Responses of the Crane (Grus grus) to potential predators in traditional wintering areas. Vogelwarte, 39:202-203.
Avilés, J.M.,Costillo, E. 1998. Selection of breeding habitats by the Roller (Coracias garrulus) in farming areas of the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Vogelwarte, 39:242-247.
Avilés, J.M.,Sánchez, A. 1998. Evolución del número de parejas reproductoras de Carraca Coracias garrulus en cinco hábitats de Extremadura. Butlletí Del Grup Català D’anellament, 14: 25-29.
Avilés, J.M.,Costillo, E. 1998. A Roller Coracias garrulus presumably nesting in a nest of white stork Ciconia ciconia. Butlletí Del Grup Català D’anellament, 14: 47-49.
Avilés, J.M.,Sánchez, A. 1998. Crecimiento de los pollos de Carraca (Coracias garrulus) en medios esteparios del sudoeste de la península ibérica: influencia de las precipitaciones. Miscelanea Zoologica, 21:1-7.
Medina, F. J.,Avilés, J.M.,Sánchez, A. 1998. Diferencias intraespecíficas en el uso de un basurero por parte de la cigüeña blanca (Ciconia ciconia) en el oeste de la Península Ibérica. Butlletí Del Grup Català D’anellament, 14: 65-70.
Avilés, J.M.,Sánchez, A.,Muñoz, A. 1998. Influencia de la edad del nidal y la presencia de otras especies sobre la fecha de puesta de la Carraca (Coracias garrulus) en estepas de Extremadura (SO Península Ibérica). Miscelanea Zoologica, 21: 1-7.
Avilés, J.M.,Sánchez, A.,Parejo, D. 1998. Variaciones en la fecha de puesta de Falco tinnunculus en Extremadura. Holarctic Birds of Prey , 131-140.
Avilés, J.M.,Muñoz, A. 1997. Andarríos chico.. Atlas Ornitológico de España, 200-201.
Avilés, J.M.,Parejo, D. 1997. Dieta de los pollos de carraca (Coracias garrulus) en una zona mediterránea (Extremadura, suroeste de España). Ardeola, 44:237.239.
Avilés, J.M.,Parejo, D. 1996. Depredación de rabilargo Cyanopica cyana sobre golondrina común Hirundo rustica. Butlletí Del Grup Català D’anellament, 12: 47-48.
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