Biology
The Evolution of Flightlessness in Island Birds and Its Ecological Trade-offs
Quick fact
Over a thousand bird species have lost the ability to fly, with the majority of these flightless species found on islands lacking terrestrial predators, such as New Zealand's kiwi and the extinct dodo.
Why this is interesting
When you think of a bird, you likely imagine it soaring through the air. Yet on some islands, birds have given up flight entirely—why would evolution take away such an ability?