Lauryn Benedict
Professor & Associate Director
School of Biological Sciences
Natural and Health Sciences
Contact Information
Office
Ross Hall, Room 2546
Mailing Address
501 20th Street, Greeley, CO 80639
Education
- Postdoctoral training: Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Berkeley, CA
- Ph.D.: Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA
- B.A.: Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Research/Areas of Interest
I study animal communication and social behavior. My research focuses on bird song
as a model system for understanding how signals evolve in nature. To understand song
function I examine how individuals use vocal signals within particular environmental
and social contexts. I study larger patterns of song evolution by measuring how songs
vary through time and space, both within and between species. Current projects examine
the function and evolution of male and female vocalizations among Parrots, Colorado
wren species, New World sparrows, and Old World warblers. Research in the lab combines
field observation, population-monitoring, and sound recording analyses within a phylogenetic
context.
Publications/Creative Works
Selected research publications
Find a complete list of research publications and access here.
- Sanchez KA, Fialko K, Benedict L, Cicero C (2023) Time alters urban singing strategies in a North American songbird. Journal of Urban Ecology 9(1)
- Benedict L, Charles A, Brockington A, Dahlin C (2022) A Survey of Vocal Mimicry in Companion Parrots.
Scientific Reports 20271.
- Benedict L, Hardt B, Dargis L (2021) Form and function predict acoustic transmission properties
of the songs of male and female canyon wrens. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.
- Wilkins MR, Odom KJ, Benedict L, Safran R (2020). Analysis of female song provides insight into the evolution of
sex differences in a widely studied songbird. Animal Behaviour 168:69-82.
- Covy N, Keeley WH, Benedict L (2019) Rock climbing activity and physical habitat attributes impact avian community
diversity in cliff environments. PLOS One 14: e0209557
- Najar N, Benedict L (2018) The relationship between latitude, migration and the evolution of bird song
complexity. Ibis 161:1-12.
- Odom KJ, Benedict L (2018). A call to document female bird songs: applications for diverse fields. Auk: Ornithological Advances 135: 314-325.
- Najar N, Benedict L (2015) Female Song in New World Wood-Warblers (Parulidae). Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 3:139.
- Warning N., Benedict L. (2015) Paving the way: Functional nest architecture of the rock wren. Auk: Ornithological Advances. 132:288-299.
- Dahlin C., Benedict L., (2013) Angry birds need not apply: A perspective on the flexible form and multi-functionality
of avian vocal duets. Ethology. 119:1-10.
- Benedict L, Rose A, Warning N (2012) Canyon wrens alter their songs in response to territorial
challenges. Animal Behaviour. 84:1463-1467
- Benedict L, Bowie RCK (2009) Macrogeographical variation in the song of a widely distributed
African warbler. Biology Letters. 5:484-487.
- Benedict L (2008) Occurrence and life history correlates of vocal duetting in North American
passerines. Journal of Avian Biology. 39: 57-65.
Recent research presentations
- American Ornithological Society / Birds Caribean (2022) San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Animal Behavior Society (2021) Virtual
- American Ornithological Society / Society of Canadian Ornithologists (2021) Virtual
- Biggest Week in American Birding (2021) Virtual
- North American Ornithological Conference (2020) Virtual
- American Ornithology Meeting (2019) Anchorage, AK
- University of Windsor (2018) Windsor, ON, Canada
- American Ornithology (2018) Tucson, AZ
- Department of Psychology, Cornell University (2018) Ithaca, NY