Nicholas Sly

I study the genetics of color patterns (#colsci). Birder, herper, naturalist, and pics of my cat, Finch. He/Him

[Nicholas Sly @nickslybirdguy]

The 2nd paper from my postdoc work on yellowthroat genomics is now online at Molecular Ecology!

Populations of Common Yellowthroats in eastern North America have notable differences in sexual selection on similar plumage ornaments ... 1/4

https://t.co/SgEGacgN6S

[American Ornithological Society @AmOrnith]

The 2025 U.S. #StateOfTheBirds report was released today. The report finds that birds continue to decline unabated across most habitats—habitats that are also vital to human well-being.
Read the report & take action! https://t.co/rk0f7lMSUB
#bringbirdsback

[Nicholas Sly @nickslybirdguy]

@NeonTetraploid Biblically accurate pheasant

[Nicholas Sly @nickslybirdguy]

@KevinFPBennett Freakin awesome work, man! I can’t wait to read in more detail.

[American Ornithological Society @AmOrnith]

The Birds of the World team wants to meet you! Visit the booth and ask what’s new (hint: a lot is new!) and grab a cool #sticker. They are seeking NEW submissions to the esteemed ornithology publication @birdsoftheworld and would love to see all previous/current authors.

[Nicholas Sly @nickslybirdguy]

I’m heading to #AOS24 with the BOW team. I hope to see many of my fellow bird nerds soon!

[Birds of The World: The Cornell Lab @birdsoftheworld]

Meet the team! Birds of the World is going to the @AmOrnith #AOS24 ornithology conference in Estes Park, Colorado, next week. You can find us at our sponsor booth in the Assembly Hall all meeting long - come say hello!

[Molecular Ecology @molecology]

Out in ME!
New work in the common yellowthroat describes a putative Z-chromosome inversion associated with geographic differences in male ornaments and female choice despite gene flow.
@WileyEcolEvol
Read More: https://t.co/z1EMP0F8ht
📷: Glenn Bartley

[Nicholas Sly @nickslybirdguy]

In honor of fall migration, the moon has dressed up as a Wilson’s Warbler

[Nicholas Sly @nickslybirdguy]

The 2nd paper from my postdoc work on yellowthroat genomics is now online at Molecular Ecology!

Populations of Common Yellowthroats in eastern North America have notable differences in sexual selection on similar plumage ornaments ... 1/4

https://t.co/SgEGacgN6S

[Nicholas Sly @nickslybirdguy]

Thus, structural variants on sex chromosomes could be a mechanism for maintaining divergence in sexual selection between populations with high gene flow. Pretty neat! 4/4

Also check out our prior work on genomics of mask and bib size, published in PNAS: https://t.co/FAi1QvumbA

[Nicholas Sly @nickslybirdguy]

The 2nd paper from my postdoc work on yellowthroat genomics is now online at Molecular Ecology!

Populations of Common Yellowthroats in eastern North America have notable differences in sexual selection on similar plumage ornaments ... 1/4

https://t.co/SgEGacgN6S

[Nicholas Sly @nickslybirdguy]

... that the Wisconsin and New York populations show little divergence except for a major putative inversion on the Z chromosome. This inversion contains vision-related genes as well as several genes we previously found to be associated with mask or bib size. ... 3/4

[Nicholas Sly @nickslybirdguy]

@ErikEnbody Congrats, and welcome to Ithaca!

[Nicholas Sly @nickslybirdguy]

@guttenbirder22 Will they continue to be cool when they are no longer accipiters?

[Nicholas Sly @nickslybirdguy]

New species of storm petrel! https://t.co/XQm1zGIJ5T

[Nicholas Sly @nickslybirdguy]

@evornithology It me because I never remember where my phones mic is. Have to try different directions just in case they work better

[Eliot Miller @EliotITMiller]

Going official with the release of something we've been cooking up for the last 3.5 years--a complete phylogeny of the world's birds! We = @snacktavish, @Avibase, and other great collaborators from @opentreeoflife and @CornellBirds. Why is this such a big deal? A few reasons.

[Nicholas Sly @nickslybirdguy]

Snow Goose / Ross’s Goose
Canada Goose / Cackling Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose / Lesser White-fronted Goose
Bean Geese / Pink-footed Goose

Why does this pattern keep happening in Arctic breeding geese?

And where is the Greater Red-breasted Goose?

[Nicholas Sly @nickslybirdguy]

@evornithology https://t.co/0NdoL63mkM

[Nicholas Sly @nickslybirdguy]

Who wants to come work with me?

[Birds of The World: The Cornell Lab @birdsoftheworld]

Birds of the World is hiring! We seek a Communications Assistant to support a global team of editors, consultants, and contributors who work together to make BOW the most comprehensive and up-to-date avian database in the world. Read more and apply here: https://t.co/ySMcEdbjs5