Lauryn Benedict

PhD, University of California, 2007.
Area of Study: Integrative Biology

BA, Cornell University, 2000.
Area of Study: Biology

Professor, University of Northern Colorado
Biological Sciences. (2020 – Present)

Animal Behavior and Ornithology

I study animal communication and social behavior. My research uses bird vocalizations as a model system for understanding how signals evolve in nature. I study signal function by examining individual birds across environmental and social contexts. I study larger patterns of vocal evolution by measuring how bird sounds vary through time and space, both within and between species. Current and past projects have examined male and female vocalizations among parrots, blackbirds, Colorado wren species, New World sparrows, and Old World warblers. Research in the lab combines field observation, population-monitoring, sound recording analyses, and survey data collection within a phylogenetic context.

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.

• Benedict, L., McEntee, J., Jones, H., Robinson, S. (2025). Phylogenetic analyses support flush-pursuit foraging and flocking behaviors as evolutionary drivers of flash plumage signals in North American passerines. Ornithology. https://doi.org/10.1093/ornithology/ukae064
• Barros, C. M., Benedict, L., & Sanchez, K. A. (2024). A review of the literature on female birdsong function. Animal Behaviour, 216, 23-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2024.07.018
• Sanchez, K., Benedict, L., Holt, E. (2023). Landscape composition is a stronger determinant than noise and light of avian community structure in an urbanizing county. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 11: 1254280. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1254280
• 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). https://doi.org/10.1093/jue/juad001
• Jones SL, Dieni JS, Warning NB, Leatherman D, Dargis L, Benedict L, (2023). Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus). In Paul G Rodewald, Brooke K Keeney (Ed.), Birds of the World. Ithaca, NY: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/canwre/cur/introduction
• Benedict L, Charles A, Brockington A, Dahlin C (2022) A Survey of Vocal Mimicry in Companion Parrots. Scientific Reports 20271. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-24335-x
• Pitt SG, Benedict L (2022) Breeding Biology and Reproductive Success of Rock Wrens in Northern Colorado. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 134:260–268. https://doi.org/10.1676/21-00077
• Wilkins M, Benedict L (2021). Why We Didn’t Know That Female Birds Sing. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-it-took-so-long-to-appreciate-female-birds-songs/
• 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. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.722967
• Dargis L, Benedict L, Najar N (2021). Female bird song rates do not covary with population density in a North American species. Ethology, 127, 1042-1052. https://doi.org/10.1111/eth.13227
• Lerman SB, Goldstein L, Benedict L, Covino KM, Dickinson JL, Fantle-Lepczyk JE, Rodewald AD, Vleck C (2021). Juggling parenthood and ornithology: A full lifecycle approach to supporting mothers through the American Ornithological Society. Ornithological Applications, 123, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1093/ornithapp/duab001
• Benedict L, Covy N, Love P, Stier S (2021). Human presence outweighs non-anthropogenic factors as a driver of avian nest parasite loads. Journal of Ornithology 62(1):155-164. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-020-01810-8
• Hardt B, Benedict L (2021) Can you hear me now? A review of signal transmission and experimental evidence for the acoustic adaptation hypothesis. Bioacoustics. https://doi.org/10.1080/09524622.2020.1858448
• Benedict L, Warning NB, Najar NA, Pitt SG, Lowther PE, Kroodsma DE, Farley GH (2021). Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus). In Paul G Rodewald, Brooke K Keeney (Ed.), Birds of the World. Ithaca, NY: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/rocwre/2.0/introduction
• Cicero C, Mason NA, Benedict L, Rising JD (2020). Behavioral, morphological, and ecological trait evolution in two clades of New World Sparrows (Aimophila and Peucaea, Passerellidae). PeerJ. 8:e9249. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9249
• 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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.07.018
• Covy NE, Keeley W, Benedict L (2020). Cliff-dwelling bird species show variable behavioral responses to rock climbing. Natural Areas Journal 40: 245-251. https://doi.org/10.3375/043.040.0321
• Mitchell LR, Benedict L, Cavar J, Najar N, Logue DM (2019) The evolution of vocal duets and migration in New World warblers (Parulidae) Auk: Ornithological Advances. 136:1-11 https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/ukz003
• 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. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0209557
• Benedict L, Najar N* (2019) Are commonly used metrics of bird song complexity concordant? Auk: Ornithological Advances 136:1-11. https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/uky008
• Najar N, Benedict L (2019) The relationship between latitude, migration, and the evolution of bird song complexity. Ibis 161:1-12. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12648
• Hathcock TG, Benedict L (2018) Conspecific challenges provoke female canyon wrens to sing but not to duet Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 72:196. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-018-2625-0
• Hedley RW, Logue DM, Benedict L, Mennill DJ (2018). Assessing the similarity of song-type transitions among birds: Evidence for inter-species variation. Animal Behaviour. 140:161-170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.04.008
• Odom KJ, Benedict L (2018). A call to document female bird songs: applications for diverse fields. Auk: Ornithological Advances 135: 314-325. https://doi.org/10.1642/AUK-17-183.1
• Calisi RM . . . Benedict L . . . 43 other authors as part of A Working Group of Mothers in Science (2018) How to Tackle the Childcare-Conference Conundrum. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 201803153. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1803153115
• Benedict L, Warning N (2017). Rock Wrens preferentially use song types that improve long distance signal transmission during natural singing bouts. Journal of Avian Biology 48:1254-1262. http://doi: 10.1111/jav.01357
• Warning N, Benedict L. (2016) Facultative nest modification by rock wrens. Avian Biology Research 9:58-65. http://doi: 10.3184/175815516X14447553481564
• Bailey D (2016) Dominance Heirarchies in horses: Comparing and Contrasting Different Methods for Assessing Heirarchies. Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado. Vol 5, No3. https://digscholarship.unco.edu/urj/vol5/iss3/1
• Najar N, Benedict L. (2015) Female song in New World wood-warblers (Parulidae). Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 3:139. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2015.00139
• Warning N, Benedict L. (2015) Overlapping home ranges and microhabitat partitioning among Canyon Wrens (Catherpes mexicanus) and Rock Wrens (Salpinctes obsoletus). Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 127:395-401. https://doi.org/10.1676/14-170.1
• Warning N, Covy N, Rose A, Phan, XM, Benedict L. (2015) Canyon wren territory occupancy and site attributes in northern Colorado. American Midland Naturalist. 174:160-170. https://doi.org/10.1674/0003-0031-174.1.150
• Warning N, Benedict L (2015) Paving the way: Multifunctional nest architecture of the rock wren. Auk: Ornithological Advances. 132:288-299. https://doi.org/10.1642/AUK-14-186.1
• Dahlin CR, Benedict L (2014) Angry birds need not apply: a perspective on the flexible form and multi-functionality of avian vocal duets. Ethology. 119:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1111/eth.12182
• “Warning N, Leatherman D, Covy N, Benedict L (2014) Male rock and canyon wrens evince their fitness as single parents. Colorado Birds 48:276-281. PDF”
• “Benedict L, Rose A, Warning N (2013) Small song repertoires and high rate of song-type sharing among Canyon Wrens. Condor. 115:874-881.PDF”
• Benedict L, Krakauer AH (2013) Kiwis to pewees: the value of studying bird calls. Ibis. 155:225-228. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12049
• Benedict L, Rose A, Warning N (2012) Canyon wrens alter their songs in response to territorial challenges. Animal Behaviour. 84:1463-1467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2012.09.017
• Benedict L, Bowie RCK (2012) Rattling cisticola song features and variability across sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Zoology. 287:96-103. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00890.x
• “Benedict, L Kunzmann MR, Ellison K, Purcell KL, Johnson RR, Haight LT (2011) California Towhee (Melozone crissalis). In: The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. No. 632.http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/632/articles/introduction”
• Benedict L (2010) California towhee duets are multi-functional signals for multiple receivers. Behaviour. 147:953-978. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/000579510X498633
• Benedict L, Bowie RCK, Fuchs J, MacManes M (2010) When non-coding is non-neutral: the role of CHD1 gene polymorphism in sexing, phylogenetics and as a correlate of fitness in birds. Ibis. 152:223-225. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.2010.01015.x
• Benedict L, Bowie RCK (2009) Macrogeographical variation in the song of a widely distributed African warbler. Biology Letters. 5:484-487. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2009.0244
• Benedict L (2009) Long term occupancy of home ranges and short term changes in use of habitat by California towhees (Pipilo crissalis). Southwestern Naturalist. 54:324-340. https://doi.org/10.1894/MH-45.1
• Benedict L, McEntee JP (2009) Context, structural variability and individuality of California towhee (Pipilo crissalis) duets. Ethology.115:77-86. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.2008.01583.x
• Benedict L (2008) Unusually high levels of extrapair paternity in a duetting species with long-term pair bonds. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 62:938-988. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00265-007-0524-x
• Benedict L (2008) Occurrence and life history correlates of vocal duetting in North American passerines. Journal of Avian Biology. 39: 57-65. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0908-8857.2008.04103.x
• Benedict L (2007) Offspring discrimination without recognition: California towhee responses to chick distress calls. Condor. 109: 79-87. https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/109.1.79
• Shiflett MW, Smulders TV, Benedict L, DeVoogd TJ (2003) Reversible inactivation of the hippocampal formation in food-storing black-capped chickadees (Poecile Atricapillus). Hippocampus. 13: 437-444. https://doi.org/10.1002/hipo.10065
• Koenig WD, Benedict LS (2002) Size, insect parasitism, and energetic value of acorns stored by acorn woodpeckers. Condor. 104: 539-547. https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/104.3.539