Colorful connections: pigment-based plumage and breeding condition are associated with gut microbiome variation in the Common Yellowthroat
Alix E. Matthews, Maxima Gomez-Palmer, Sebastian Gallego, Mads Moore, Lan-Nhi Phung, Daniel T. Baldassarre, Marcella D. Baiz
The paper examines the association between gut microbiome diversity and plumage coloration traits in male Common Yellowthroats, finding higher microbiome diversity in brighter, more orange-tinted individuals.
bioRxiv · Jun 17, 2026 · PreprintEcology