Among birds with white heads, the Ross’s gull lives in Antarctica and very rarely visits North America. In breeding season, these birds have white feathers that are dusted with light gray.

Monarch butterflies with more white spots on their mostly orange-and-black wings are more successful at long-distance migration. Some scientists think the spots may affect airflow around their wings.

Research from Washington University in St. Louis says that bird wing shape—a proxy for long-distance flying ability—is a trait that influences biodiversity patterns on islands around the world.

Bird wings and legs evolve independently, while bat wing and leg proportions are integrated. Credit: Nature Ecology & Evolution (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02572-9 ...