Feathered Icons: Drivers of Global Attention on Bird Species

Global biodiversity faces profound threats. Efforts to slow biodiversity loss remain inadequate without greater public engagement. With challenges in the biases of species knowledge across taxa and regions, many endemic or threatened species receive insufficient attention. Birds, with their ecological importance and cultural visibility, present an ideal object for exploring biases in species knowledge. To understand factors driving scientific and public interest in birds, we compiled a comprehensive dataset to investigate how phenotypic, ecological, and cultural factors influence attention toward global bird species. Our analysis reveals that factors related to public familiarity and species charisma significantly shape public and scientific priorities. In contrast species that are threatened or have limited ranges often receive little public attention. IUCN status alone fails to sustain public interest in these species. To address this imbalance, we propose comprehensive strategies such as media campaigns and conservation education to better engage the public and scientific communities. These efforts are crucial for ensuring conservation efforts could encompass a sufficient range of species.