Lab Members

Current Lab Members:

Lead Researcher:

Kevin. J. Burns – Kevin received a B.S. in Biology at Texas A&M University, an MS in Zoology at LSU, and PhD in Integrative Biology at UC Berkeley. After finishing his PhD, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. He’s been a professor of biology at San Diego State since 1998 and also curates the bird collection at the SDSU Museum of Biodiversity.

Graduate Students:

Max Kirsch – Max received his B.S. in Biological Sciences, with a concentration in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, from Cornell University. While there, he worked in the Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates (as well as the Cornell University Insect Collection), and was a TA for Ornithology. Among other activities, Max has also worked at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and volunteered in the bird collections at the Field Museum; served as a taxon curator for birds on iNaturalist for several years; and is a member of the Early Professional Systematics Group of the AOS North American Classification Committee. Max joined the lab in the Fall 2022 semester and is currently researching different potential projects. Welcome Max!

Jonah Alderson – Jonah received his BA in Biology with a minor in Geosciences from the University of Iowa. While there, he participated in a variety of research activities spanning the lab, field, and museum. His main undergraduate project focused on historical changes in an avian community and was published in the Ibis. For his MS thesis, Jonah is studying the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of an introduced and expanding species, the Scaly-breasted Munia.

Michael Tofflemire – Michael received his BS in Biology with a concentration in Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation from the University of Washington. While at UW, Michael worked in the lab of John Klicka where he investigated the phylogeography of the Black-throated Gray Warbler. He also worked as a collections and curatorial assistant for the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture and conducted field work on Kirtland’s Warblers in Michigan. For his dissertation, Michael is continuing to pursue his interest in phylogeography, focusing on California species such as the Wrentit and the California Thrasher.

Sarah Hood – Sarah received her Bachelor of Science and Arts in Biology from the University of Texas. While at UT, Sarah worked in the Vertebrate Paleontology lab as well as the lab of Julia Clark. Some of the projects she worked on included avian fossil description, syrinx preparation, and re-description of the hindlimb of the Southern Cassowary. For her MS thesis, Sarah is working on the contact zone between the migratory and non-migratory subspecies of Allen’s Hummingbird.

Research Associates:

Dr. Allison Shultz – Allison received her MS in the Burns lab in 2011 and subsequently completed a PhD at Harvard in the lab of Scott Edwards. She is currently the Curator of Birds at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Her research integrates across evolutionary timescales and uses and builds upon ornithology collections. Some specific areas of interest include host-pathogen co-evolution, plumage coloration, and introduced species. She is an adjunct professor at SDSU and regularly attends Burns lab meetings. She can co-advise graduate students and serve on committees.

Dr. Lori Hargrove – Lori received her PhD in 2010 from the University of California at Riverside, advised by John Rotenberry.  For her dissertation, she investigated avian-habitat relationships along an arid elevational gradient and how they have shifted in response to climate change.  She is currently working as a Research Ecologist with the San Diego Natural History Museum, leading a variety of research projects, including NSF-funded Grinnell Resurvey Projects documenting and interpreting changes to species’ distributions over the past 100 years. Lori has been the recipient of numerous research awards including a Biological Impacts of Climate Change Research Grant from the state of California, and is a Certified Ecologist by the Ecological Society of America.

Lab Associates:  Casey Richart, Nira Clark

Undergrad Researchers:   Over 50 undergraduates have worked in the Burns lab over the years. During the Spring semester 2022, Tiffany Bond is working with us, assisting with Biology 524 Ornithology.

Former Lab Members:

Former Graduate Students:

Ben Scott – For his MS thesis, Ben studied the evolution of color diversity in the Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Grosbeaks). He produced a UCE phylogeny for the group and looked at ecological correlates of plumage color evolution, with a particular focus on habitat. He graduated in 2021 and currently works as a data analyst for Los Angeles County.

Brian Myers – For his PhD project, Brian studied the behavior, morphology, and genetics in two hummingbird species, the Rufous and Allen’s Hummingbirds. In particular, he focused on a hybrid zone between these two species. In addition, he investigated the phylogeography of the Allen’s Hummingbird. He is currently a postdoc in the lab of Liz Scordato at Cal Poly Pomona. So far, he has published three papers from his dissertation work:

Myers, B. M., D. T. Rankin, K. J. Burns, A. Brelsford, and C. J. Clark. 2022. k-mer analysis shows hybrid hummingbirds perform variable, transgressive courtship sequences. Animal Behaviour 186:67-84.

Myers, B. M., K. J. Burns, C. J. Clark, and A. Brelsford. 2021. The population genetics of non-migratory Allen’s Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin sedentarius) following a recent mainland colonization. Ecology and Evolution 11 (4): 1850-1865.

Myers, B. M., D. T. Rankin, K. J. Burns, and C. J. Clark. 2019. Behavioral and morphological evidence of an Allen’s × Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin × S. rufus) hybrid zone in southern Oregon and northern California. The Auk: Ornithological Advances 136 (4) ukz049.

Nick Vinciguerra – Nick studied the macoevolutionary dynamics of bill evolution in tanagers using 3D images of their bills. He finished his MS thesis in 2020 and is currently working on his PhD in Mike Anderson’s lab at the University of New Mexico. The first paper of his MS thesis is published:

Vinciguerra, N. T. and K. J. Burns. 2021. Species diversification and ecomorphological evolution in the radiation of tanagers (Passeriformes: Thraupidae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 133 (3): 920–930.

Rosalyn Price-Waldman – For her MS thesis, Rosalyn constructed a new phylogeny for tanagers using genomic data. In addition, she looked at trait evolution on the phylogeny of tanagers, in particular color evolution as well as the interplay between traits associated with natural and sexual selection. She finished her MS thesis in 2019 and is currently working on her PhD at Princeton University, in the lab of Cassie Stoddard. Her first paper from her MS thesis has been published:

Price-Waldman, R. M., Shultz, A. J., and K. J. Burns. 2020. Speciation rates are correlated with changes in plumage color complexity in the largest family of songbirds. Evolution. 74 (6), 1155-1169.

Amelia Demery – For her MS thesis, Amelia investigating morphological evolution in the tanagers. In particular, she investigated how bill shape and other morphological characters may correlate with speciation rates across the group. She finished her MS in 2018 and is currently working on her PhD at Cornell University in the lab of Irby Lovette. She published two papers from her MS thesis:

Demery, A-J* and K. J. Burns. 2023. Widespread convergent morphological evolution within the largest family of songbirds. Evolution, qpac069

Demery, A.-J. C.*, K. J. Burns, K. J., and N. A. Mason. 2021. Bill size, bill shape, and body size constrain bird song evolution on a macroevolutionary scale. Ornithology 138 (2) ukab11.

Erik Funk – For his MS thesis, Erik used indices of phylogenetic diversity for conservation planning, focusing on tanagers and their relatives in a large clade known as Emberizoidea (9-primaried oscines). He also studied the biogeographic history of Darwin’s finches and their close relatives. Erik finished his MS thesis in 2017 and received a PhD in Scott Taylor’s lab at the University of Colorado Boulder. He is currently a post-doc, working at the San Diego Zoo’s Beckman Center for Conservation Research. He published two papers from his MS thesis:

Funk, E. R. and K. J. Burns. 2018. Biogeographic origins of Darwin’s finches (Thraupidae: Coerebinae). The Auk: Ornithological Advances 135: 561-571.

Funk, E. R. and K. J. Burns. 2019. Evolutionary distinctiveness and conservation priorities in a large radiation of New World birds (Emberizoidea). Animal Conservation 22 (3): 274-284.

Shannon Walsh – For her MS thesis, Shannon studied the  conservation genetics of the Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) on California’s Channel Islands. Two subspecies of the towhee occur on the Channel Islands, the mainland subspecies and an island endemic subspecies. Using DNA sequence data, she studied the evolutionary history of the towhees on the islands and evaluated their genetic  and morphological distinctiveness. Shannon received funding for her project from the Chapman fund of the American Museum of Natural History, a Ralph W. Schreiber Award from the Los Angeles Audubon Society,  and a grant from SDSU. Shannon finished her MS thesis in 2015 and currently works as a biologist.

Luke Klicka – For his MS thesis, Luke studied the phylogeography of the Bell’s Vireo. The Bell’s Vireo is a widespread North American species consisting of four subspecies. However, no genetic data has been used to address the distinctiveness of these subspecies. Of particular interest is the Least Bell’s Vireo subspecies, a federally endangered subspecies that breeds in riparian habitat in southern California and northern Baja California. Luke investigated the population genetic structure across the species to better inform conservation action. Luke received support for his project from the Los Angeles Audubon Society, the American Ornithologists’ Union, and the Chapman fund of the American Museum of Natural History. Luke finished his MS at SDSU in 2014 and subsequently completed a PhD in Rob Moyle’s lab at the University of Kansas. He is currently a professor at Peru State College. Luke published his thesis in Conservation Genetics as well as another paper on South Atlantic finches a side project unrelated to his thesis:

Klicka, L. B., B. E. Kus, P. T. Title, and K. J. Burns. 2016. Conservation Genomics reveals multiple evolutionary units within Bell’s Vireo (Vireo bellii). Conservation Genetics 17: 455-471.

Ryan, P. G., L. B. Klicka, F. K. Barker, and K. J. Burns. 2013. The origin of finches on Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island, central South Atlantic ocean. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 69: 299-305.

Nick Mason – For this MS thesis, Nick studied the evolution of vocalizations in tanagers. He mapped vocalization data onto a phylogeny of tanagers to learn how, when, and why differences in vocalizations evolved with the group. His analyses provided insight into how song relates to diversification. In addition, he investigated the interplay between elaborate plumage and elaborate songs, both of which are targets of sexual selection. During his time at SDSU, he was supported in part by a Sally Casanova Predoctoral Scholarship from the California State University. Nick finished his thesis in 2012 and subsequently completed a PhD student in Irby Lovette’s lab at Cornell University in 2017 and followed that up with a postdoc at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at UC Berkeley. He is currently a professor and curator at Louisiana State University. Nick has published seven papers from his MS thesis:

Mason, N. A., Burns, K. J., Seddon, N., Tobias, J., Claramunt, S., and E. P. Derryberry. 2017. Song evolution, speciation, and vocal learning in passerine birds. Evolution 71: 786-796.

Burns, K. J., P. Unitt, N. A. Mason. 2016. A genus-level classification of the family Thraupidae (Class Aves: Order Passeriformes). Zootaxa 4088: 329-354.

Mason, N.A. and K. J. Burns. 2015. The effect of habitat and body size on the evolution of vocal displays in Thraupidae (tanagers), the largest family of songbirds. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 114: 538–551.

Mason, N. A., Shultz, A. J., and K. J. Burns. 2014. Elaborate visual and acoustic signals evolve independently in a large, phenotypically diverse radiation of songbirds. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Biological Sciences 281 1788 20140967.  some links to articles about this study can be found here

Mason, N. A., P. O. Title, C. Cicero, K. J. Burns, and R. C. K. Bowie. 2014. Genetic variation among western populations of the Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) indicates recent colonization of the Channel Islands off southern California, mainland-bound dispersal, and postglacial range shifts. The Auk: Ornithological Advances 131: 162-174.

Burns, K. J., A. J. Shultz, P. O. Title, N. A. Mason, F. K. Barker, J. Klicka, S. M. Lanyon, and I. J. Lovette. 2014. Phylogenetics and diversification of tanagers (Passeriformes: Thraupidae), the largest radiation of Neotropical songbirds. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 75: 41-77.

Mason, N. A. and K. J. Burns. 2013. Molecular phylogenetics of the Neotropical Seedeaters and Seed-finches (Sporophila, Oryzoborus, Dolospingus). Ornitología Neotropical 24: 139-155.

Pascal Title – Pascal’s MS thesis investigated the evolution of ecological niches in tanagers. Using species occurrence data and climate data, he characterized the environmental niche of different species of tanagers. He then traced this information onto the phylogeny of tanagers to understand how niches have changed through time. Among other things, Pascal looked for evidence of niche conservatism and correlations between niche evolution and species diversification. Pascal finished his MS thesis in 2012 and subsequently completed a PhD in Dan Rabosky’s lab at the University of Michigan. He followed that up with a postdoc at Indiana University. He is currently a professor at Stony Brook University. His MS thesis was published in Ecology Letters, and he is also an author on two more Burns lab papers:

Klicka, L. B., B. E. Kus, P. T. Title, and K. J. Burns. 2016. Conservation Genomics reveals multiple evolutionary units within Bell’s Vireo (Vireo bellii). Conservation Genetics 17: 455-471.

Title, P. O. and K. J. Burns. 2015. Rates of climatic niche evolution are correlated with species richness in a large and ecologically diverse radiation of songbirds. Ecology Letters 18:433-440.

Burns, K. J., A. J. Shultz, P. O. Title, N. A. Mason, F. K. Barker, J. Klicka, S. M. Lanyon, and I. J. Lovette. 2014. Phylogenetics and diversification of tanagers (Passeriformes: Thraupidae), the largest radiation of Neotropical songbirds. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 75: 41-77.

Allison Shultz – Allison’s thesis investigated the evolution of bird coloration in tanagers using a model that accounts for avian visual abilities.  She identified numerous species with cryptic dichromatism, where males and females appear different to birds but not to humans.  She then mapped her measures of coloration onto the tanager phylogeny, comparing the role of male and female plumage changes in driving evolutionary changes in degree of dichromatism.  During her time at SDSU, she was funded by a prestigious NSF graduate research fellowship and also received grants from the American Ornithologists’ Union and the Los Angeles Audubon Society.  She finished her MS thesis in 2011 and subsequently completed a PhD student in Scott Edward’s lab at Harvard University. She is now the Curator of Birds at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History.  Allison has five publications from her MS thesis:

Price-Waldman, R. M., Shultz, A. J., and K. J. Burns. 2020. Speciation rates are correlated with changes in plumage color complexity in the largest family of songbirds. Evolution. 74 (6), 1155-1169.

Shultz, A. J. and K. J. Burns. 2017. The role of sexual and natural selection in shaping patterns of sexual dichromatism in the largest family of songbirds (Aves: Thraupidae). Evolution 71: 1061-1074.

Burns, K. J., A. J. Shultz, P. O. Title, N. A. Mason, F. K. Barker, J. Klicka, S. M. Lanyon, and I. J. Lovette. 2014. Phylogenetics and diversification of tanagers (Passeriformes: Thraupidae), the largest radiation of Neotropical songbirds. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 75: 41-77.

Shultz, A. J. and K. J. Burns. 2013. Plumage evolution in relation to light environment in a novel clade of Neotropical tanagers. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 66: 112-125.

Burns, K. J. and A. J. Shultz. 2012. Widespread cryptic dichromatism and ultraviolet reflectance in the largest radiation of Neotropical songbirds: implications of accounting for avian vision in the study of plumage evolution. The Auk 129: 211-221.

Bill Mauck – Bill studied the molecular systematics of flowerpiercers (Diglossa and Diglossopis). These tanagers have an unusual method of obtaining nectar. In most species, a hook on the end of the upper mandible is used to hold the corolla of a flower while the bird pierces the flower with its lower bill. Because they may obtain nectar without pollinating the flower, they are often called nectar thieves. Bill used molecular data to reconstruct the phylogeny of these species and then mapped the evolution of bill shape onto this phylogeny. Bill’s research was supported partly by grants from the Los Angeles Audubon Society and the American Museum of Natural History.  Bill finished his MS thesis in 2008 and subsequently worked in the Ornithology Department at the American Museum of Natural History for several years.  He currently works at the New York Genome Center. The results of his thesis were published in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society:

Mauck, W. M. and K. J. Burns. 2009. Phylogeny, biogeography, and recurrent evolution of divergent bill types in the nectar-stealing flowerpiercers (Thraupini: Diglossa and Diglossopis). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 98: 14-28.

Raul Sedano – Raul studied the evolutionary relationships of a large clade of tanagers that includes the mountain tanagers (Buthraupis, Bangsia, Iridosornis, Anisognathus, Dubusia, Delothraupis). Raul reconstructed a phylogeny for this group that contains 18 genera and nearly 100 species. These species are found not only in the Andes, but also in most of the zoogeographic regions of South America. Thus, with his phylogeny, Raul was able to investigate the biogeographic history of the entire continent. He was supported by a Fulbright Scholarship as well as  a Chapman grant from the American Museum of Natural History.  Raul finished his MS thesis in 2007 and in 2012 completed his PhD at UCLA in Tom Smith’s lab. He is currently a professor in the Biology Department of the Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia. The results of his MS thesis were published in the Journal of Biogeography:

Sedano, R. E. and Burns, K. J. 2010. Are the Northern Andes a species pump for Neotropical birds? Phylogenetics and biogeography of a clade of Neotropical tanagers (Aves: Thraupini). Journal of Biogeography 37: 325-343.

Tiffany Shepherd – Tiffany studied the population genetics of the Summer Tanager. The Summer Tanager is a species of special concern in California and has recently colonized new areas in the state. She studied levels of gene flow among these populations and others in the Southwest. In addition, she compared genetic and morphological differences between the eastern and western subspecies of the Summer Tanager. Her work was supported by California State Parks, a Schreiber grant from the Los Angeles Audubon Society, and a Chapman grant from the American Museum of Natural History.  She finished her MS thesis in 2004 and currently works as a biologist for the US Navy in Arizona. Her thesis was published in The Journal of Avian Biology:

Shepherd, T. M. and K. J. Burns. 2007. Intraspecific genetic analysis of the Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra): Implications for species limits and conservation. Journal of Avian Biology 38: 12-27.

Matt Alexander – Matt studied the phylogeography of the White-headed Woodpecker. The White-headed Woodpecker inhabits high elevation areas in California, Oregon, and Washington and shows morphological differences between individuals in the northern and southern parts of the range. He found genetic differences that correlate with these morphological differences.  Matt’s research was supported by a Schreiber grant from the Los Angeles Audubon Society and a Chapman grant from the American Museum of Natural History.  Matt also received the outstanding graduate student instructor award from the Department of Biology. Matt finished his MS thesis in 2005 and currently works as a biologist in New Jersey.  He published his results in two papers:

Alexander, M. P. and K. J. Burns. 2006. Intraspecific phylogeography and adaptive divergence in the White-headed Woodpecker. The Condor 108: 489-518.

Burns, K. J., M. P. Alexander, D. N. Barhoum, and E. A. Sgariglia. 2007. A statistical assessment of congruence among phylogeographic histories of three avian species in the California Floristic Province. Pages 96-109 in Festschrift for Ned K. Johnson: Geographic Variation and Evolution in Birds (C. Cicero and J. V. Remsen, Jr., Eds.). Ornithological Monographs, no. 63.

Erik Sgariglia – Erik worked on the phylogeography of the California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum), a chaparral/scrub species found throughout California. Erik identified several phylogeogeographic patterns that are concordant with those of other co-distributed taxa in California.  Erik’s research was partially supported by a Frank M. Chapman grant of the American Museum of Natural History.  He currently works in music education. He finished his MS thesis in 2001 and published his results in two papers:

Sgariglia, E. A. and Burns, K. J. 2003. Phylogeography of the California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum) based on nested-clade analysis of mitochondrial-DNA variation. The Auk 120: 346-361.

Burns, K. J., M. P. Alexander, D. N. Barhoum, and E. A. Sgariglia. 2007. A statistical assessment of congruence among phylogeographic histories of three avian species in the California Floristic Province. Pages 96-109 in Festschrift for Ned K. Johnson: Geographic Variation and Evolution in Birds (C. Cicero and J. V. Remsen, Jr., Eds.). Ornithological Monographs, no. 63.

Dino Barhoum – Dino worked on the Wrentit (Chamea fasciata), an unusual bird found in chaparral habitat of California and Oregon. He studied the phylogeography of the species as well as the evolutionary relationships of the Wrentit to other species.  His research was partially supported by a Frank M. Chapman grant from the American Museum of Natural History.  He finished his MS thesis in 2001.  After finishing his MS, he attended medical school at the University of Vermont and currently practices medicine in San Diego. He published his results in three papers:

Burns, K. J. and D. N. Barhoum. 2006. Population-level history of the wrentit (Chamaea fasciata): Implications for comparative phylogeography in the California Floristic Province. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 38: 117-129.

Barhoum, D. N. and K. J. Burns. 2002. Phylogenetic relationships of the Wrentit based on mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences. The Condor 104: 740-749.

Burns, K. J., M. P. Alexander, D. N. Barhoum, and E. A. Sgariglia. 2007. A statistical assessment of congruence among phylogeographic histories of three avian species in the California Floristic Province. Pages 96-109 in Festschrift for Ned K. Johnson: Geographic Variation and Evolution in Birds (C. Cicero and J. V. Remsen, Jr., Eds.). Ornithological Monographs, no. 63.

Bryan Sharp – Bryan was co-advised by Burns and by Dr. Barbara Kus of the USGS.  He studied brood parasitism of the Least Bell’s Vireo by the Brown-headed Cowbird. Bryan’s research was funded by a Peacock scholarship from the Garden Club of America and from a Chapman grant from the American Museum of Natural History.  Bryan finished his thesis in 2001 and taught for many years in Durango, Mexico. He is currently teaching at Stanly Community College in Albemarle, North Carolina. His thesis research appeared in three publications:

Sharp, B. L. and B. E. Kus. 2006. Factors influencing the incidence of cowbird parasitism of Least Bell’s Vireos. Journal of Wildlife Management 70: 682-690.

Sharp, B. L., B. L. Peterson, and B. E. Kus. 2005. Puncture ejection of own egg by Least Bell’s Vireo and potential implications for anti-parasitism defense. Western Birds 36:64-66.

Sharp, B. L. and B. E. Kus. 2004. Sunrise nest attendance and aggression by Least Bell’s Vireos fail to deter cowbird parasitism. Wilson Bulletin 116: 17-22.

Former Undergraduate Researchers:  We have benefited from the help of many talented undergraduate students in the lab over the years. Thank you for your help and hard work!  Liz Lara Valdez, Aubtin Rouhbakhsh, Tre Brown, Michael Jimenez, Brandon Lebeiko, Jessica Plein, Amanda Miller, Samantha Wynns, Alan Obando, Nicco Eck, Morgan Reed, Zach Martinez, Jeff Moore, Andre Nguyen, Allan Cabrero, Erik Funk, Cate Threlkeld, Josh Espinoza, Annabelle Bernabe, Heather Macdonald, Ryan House, Matt Faughender, Angel Dufrane, Sarah Tulley, Ashley Lane-Roberts, Ian Maunsell, Celesta Cates, Maria Gonzalez, Tommie Ebanez, Ben Tambaschi, Shannon Drake, Kimo Rogalo, Mike Guerreiro, Amanda Sommerfield, Laura Rollefson, Beth Kennedy, Matt Alexander, Mike Machado, Shera Finn, Sarah Curry, Steve Sullivan, Valda Mestas-Romero, Jamie Mascarin, Marisa Giometti, Rodolfo Figueroa, Rachel del Rio, Tara Cahill, Pam McGlynn, José Guarderas, Jason Gross, Heather Davis, Rick Combs, and Jason Bornholdt.

Former High School Interns: Dominic Dudley, Drew Beamer, Sarah Clark

Former Lab Associates: Dena Emmerson, Robin Keith, Rachel Racicot, Morgan Churchill