Final answer:
The distribution of bird species in North America is governed by biogeographic patterns, climate change effects on migration, deforestation and human settlement patterns, introduction of exotic species, and unique ecological factors like those occurring in the Appalachian mountains.
Step-by-step explanation:
Factors Influencing Bird Species Distribution in North America
The distribution of bird species in North America is influenced by a range of ecological and historical factors. Firstly, bird distribution is often correlated with biogeographic patterns, with certain areas like the tropics and mountainous regions having higher species richness. Secondly, climate plays a critical role; as winter temperatures increase, birds have been observed to shift their wintering grounds northward, potentially leading to ecological challenges due to the change in migration patterns. Additionally, human activity such as deforestation and the introduction of exotic bird species by Acclimatisation Societies has historically contributed to changes in bird species distributions. Finally, there are unique cases, such as the Appalachian mountains, where anomalies in species concentrations occur, suggesting that localized ecological factors can also govern bird locations.
Birds in North America have colonized and occupied diverse habitats due to their ability to fly and adapt to different environments. This has resulted in the occupation of numerous landforms and climates, contributing to their varied distribution. Furthermore, evolutionary history has shaped the presence of specific bird clades in certain areas, such as oscine passerines that evolved on the mainland and sub-oscine passerines that evolved on isolated South America.