Per Alström

Researcher at Department of Ecology and Genetics; Animal Ecology

Telephone:
+46 18 471 27 02
Mobile phone:
+46 70 454 69 65
E-mail:
per.alstrom@ebc.uu.se
Visiting address:
Evolutionsbiologiskt centrum (EBC)
Norbyvägen 18 D
Postal address:
Norbyvägen 18 D
752 36 UPPSALA

Download contact information

CV:
Download CV
ORCID:
0000-0001-7182-2763

Short presentation

My research concerns taxonomy, systematics and evolution of birds, especially Asian passerines. See further under the headings below.

ResearchGate

Keywords

  • evolution
  • systematics
  • taxonomy
  • ornithology
  • birds

Biography

Professor

Former employments at Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing; Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala; and Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm

Deputy Editor-In-Chief Avian Research (Elsevier)

Associate Editor Birds of the World (hosted by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA)

Fellow International The Explorers Club

Fellow The Linnean Society

Research

My research concerns taxonomy, systematics and evolution of birds, especially Asian passerines.

Avian tree of life

I use molecular data to reconstruct the phylogeny ("tree of life") of different groups of birds. I have been involved in comprehensive studies of multiple avian families, which have revealed previously unexpected relationships and complex evolutionary patterns; e.g. Acrocephalidae (Fregin et al. 2009), Alaudidae (Alström et al. 2013, Alström et al. 2023), Cettiidae (Alström et al. 2011), Cisticolidae (Olsson et al. 2013), Emberizidae (Alström et al. 2008), Locustellidae (Alström et al. 2011, Alström et al. 2018), Motacillidae (Alström et al. 2015), Muscicapidae (Sangster et al. 2010, Zhao et al. 2022), Prunellidae (Liu et al. 2017, Jiang et al. 2024), Phylloscopidae (Alström et al. 2018), the 2–7 ‘babbler’ families (depending on taxonomy; Gelang et al. 2009, Cibois et al. 2018, Cai et al. 2019), Laniidae (Fuchs et al. 2019) and Estrildidae (Olsson & Alström 2020), and the superfamily Sylvioidea (Alström et al. 2006, Fregin et al. 2012; review paper: Alström et al. 2013) and the large Passerida clade (including description of a new family [now recognised at superfamily level] of birds: Alström et al. 2014), as well as the first genomic-level studies of all passerine families (Oliveros et al. 2019) and all avian orders (Jarvis et al. 2014).

I have also been involved in phylogenetic and/or phylogeographic studies of smaller groups, such as genera of parts of genera, e.g. Acrocephalus (Olsson et al. 2016), Aegithalos (Wang et al. 2014, Zhang et al. 2017), Anthus (Alström et al. 2015), Alaudala (Ghorbani et al. 2020), Calandrella (Stervander et al. 2016), Cyornis (Zhang et al. 2016, Singh et al. 2020), Emberiza (Zhang et al. 2024), Eremophila (Ghorbani et al. 2020), Ficedula (Hooper et al. 2016), Heteromirafra (Spottiswoode et al. 2013), Larvivora (Zhao et al. 2017), Motacilla (Li et al. 2016, Harris et al. 2018), Phylloscopus/Seicercus (Irwin et al. 2001, Olsson et al. 2004, Olsson et al. 2005), Pica (Song et al. 2018), Scotocerca (Alström et al. 2011), Tichodroma (Zhao et al. 2016), Turdus (Nylander et al. 2008) and Zoothera (Olsson & Alström 2013).

Taxonomy of birds

I use an integrative taxonomic approach, involving analyses of e.g. morphology, vocalisations, behaviour, DNA, ecology and geographical distributions, to study the taxonomy of birds. These studies have resulted in a significant increase in the number of recognised species in the studied groups, including the description of seven new species and three new subspecies to science. E.g. within the genera Acrocephalus (Olsson et al. 2016), Alaudala (Alström et al. 2021), Anthus (Doniol-Valcroze et al. 2023), Brachypteryx (Alström et al. 2018), Calandrella (Alström & Sundev 2021; Stervander et al. 2020; incl. new subspecies: Calandrella cinerea rufipecta), Carpodacus (Liu et al. 2020), Calliope (Liu et al. 2016), Corypha (Alström et al. 2024), Cyornis (Zhang et al. 2016, Gwee et al. 2019, Singh et al. 2020, Ng et al. 2021, Garg et al. 2024), Emberiza (Olsson et al. 2013), Eremophila (Ghorbani et al. 2020), Ficedula (Dong et al. 2015), Horornis/Cettia (Alström et al. 2007, Wei et al. 2019, Wei et al. 2024), Lanius (Olsson et al. 2009), Locustella/Bradypterus (Alström et al. 2008, Alström et al. 2015, incl. new species: L. chengi), Motacilla (Duckworth et al. 2001, new species: M. samveasnae; Hellquist et al. 2021), Mirafra (Alström 1998), Phylloscopus/Seicercus (Alström & Olsson 1990, Alström & Olsson 1992, Alström et al. 1993, Olsson et al. 1993, new species: P. hainanus; Alström & Olsson 1995, new species: P. emeiensis; Alström et al. 1997, Alström & Olsson 1999, incl. new species: S. soror; Alström & Olsson 2000, Alström et al. 2010, incl. new species: P. calciatilis, Alström et al. 2011, Zhang et al. 2019, Zhang et al. 2021), Pica (Song et al. 2018), Prinia (Alström et al. 2020; incl. new subspecies: P. polychroa deignani; Alström et al. 2021, incl. a new subspecies P. gracilis ashi), Sylvia (Olsson et al. 2013), Tarsiger (Wei et al. 2022), and Zoothera (Alström et al. 2016, incl. new species: Z. salimalii).

Evolution of birds

I am also very interested in various evolutionary questions, and I have been involved in studies of such diverse subjects as speciation (e.g. Alström et al. 2015, Liu et al. 2017), Semenov et al. 2021), evolution of different geographical avifaunas (Johansson et al. 2007, Price et al. 2014, Lei et al. 2015, He et al. 2019, Cai et al. 2020, Reeve et al. 2023), distributional range expansion (Zhang et al. 2023), divergence in secondary contct zones (Wu et al. 2023), introgression and plumage divergence (Rancilhac et al. 2024), diversification history and morphological evolution (Garcia-Navas et al. 2024), evolution of UV vision in shorebirds (Ödeen et al. 2009) and passerines (Ödeen et al. 2011), evolution of vocalisations (Xia et al. 2013, Xing et al. 2013, Wei et al. 2017), niche shifts (Alström et al. 2015), evolution of migratory behaviour (Zhang et al. 2022), biogeography of several groups of birds (Saitoh et al. 2010, Song et al. 2016, Liu et al. 2017, Song et al. 2020), pitfalls of comparisons of genetic distances (Fregin et al. 2012), species concepts (Alström 2006), and genome evolution (Zhang et al. 2014). These studies have used an array of data, e.g. phylogenetic, morphological, ecological, paleoclimatic, and distributional (including “big data” from e.g. GBIF), and a plethora of analytical methods.

Download CV for complete publication list.

See also ResearchGate and ORCID

Talks and interviews about my research

See Media, above.

Publications

See below and CV, plus the following books:

Alström, P. & Mild, K. (text), Alström, P. & Zetterström, B. (illustrations). 2003. Pipits and Wagtails of Europe, Asia and North America: identification and systematics. London: Christopher Helm/A&C Black; Princeton: Princeton University Press. 496 pp.

Alström, P. & Colston, P. (text), Lewington, I. (illustrations). 1991. Field Guide to the Rare Birds of Britain and Europe. London: HarperCollins. 448 pp.

(Book chapters given below)

Media

Here are various talks, presentations and interviews that I've given in recent years.

More media can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8nXUslKxKPRtmhsLo5z9tQ

and here: https://search.macaulaylibrary.org/catalog?userId=USER746813

Talk on the passerine bird tree of life

Talk on my research on the evolutionary history of the largest avian radiation, the passerines.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaBXqldwIQo

Talk on the identification of vagrant Asian leaf warblers

I talk on the identification of Asian leaf warblers that are vagrants in Europe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA04atLT8i8

Urban and suburban birding: Common Kingfisher

Here I promote birding in urban/suburban habitats, focusing on the Common Kingfisher.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuB4GdF_jg4

Urban and suburban birding: Slavonian Grebe

Here I promote birding in urban/suburban habitats, focusing on a small lake at Uppsala with Slavonian Grebes, Red-necked Grebes, Common Goldeneye, Eurasian Coot and other birds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6yBvfbjrgI

Presentation of my ornithological explorations in China and Mongolia

I give a brief presentation of my ornithological explorations in China and Mongolia since the 1980s (starting at c. 44 mins). Other Swedish members of the Explorers Club present their explorations.

https://www.facebook.com/TheExplorersClubNYC/videos/vb.691604090855340/348564813237951/?type=2&theater

Talk on identification of Asian vagrant birds to Europe

Talk (sound and pdf) on the identification of some Asian birds that turn up as vagrants in Europe.

https://birdingbeijing.com/tag/per-alstrom/

Interview on Radio Beijing International

I'm interviewed on Radio Beijing International about my travels and ornithological research in China over more than 30 years

https://www.shanghaibirding.com/alstrom-radio-beijing/

Are there more hidden species to be discovered?

Discussion with David Lindo, a.k.a. The Urban Birder, on e.g. bird taxonomy.

https://theurbanbirderworld.com/in-conservation-with/per-alstrom/

Presentation of the Swedish Taxonomy Initiative

Lecture at conference arranged by the Swedish Species Information Centre in 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuDI0XnX33c&list=PL87ADN0C2pAOTDeL4UJSA3RJmKF5osi6J&index=2

Taxonomy: the mysteries surrounding the birds we watch

Discussion with David Lindo, a.k.a. The Urban Birder on bird taxonomy, with examples from my research

https://theurbanbirderworld.com/in-conservation-with/per-alstrom-october-2020/

Urban and suburban birding: River Fyris

Here I promote birding in urban/suburban habitats, walking along the river that runs through Uppsala

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpKAX5n8UJY

Urban and suburban birding: forest birds

Here I promote birding in urban/suburban habitats, focusing on common forest birds at Uppsala

https://youtu.be/gVefleTG_Bk

In the footsteps of Linnaeus – modern studies of the avian diversity

Popular science talk in Swedish on some recent studies of the avian diversity.

https://youtu.be/nHA-G65B784

Birdwatching at Uppsala – conclusions

Summary of films on birdwatching at Uppsala

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W74oDfgxpk

Research pod - interview (Swedish)

https://www.uu.se/nyheter/artikel/?id=14282&typ=artikel&lang=sv

The superfamily Sylvioidea – a tree full of surprises

Plenary talk at the First Asian Ornithological Conference (2021) on the superfamily Sylvioidea, in which many odd relationships have been revealed through DNA analyses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brb97nit3YM

Research pod Uppsala University

I'm interviewed in Swedish about my ornithological research

https://www.uu.se/nyheter/artikel/?id=14282&typ=artikel

Interview on Swedish Radio about a new bird species: Sichuan Bush Warbler

https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/6160864

Interview on Swedish Radio about bird systematics

https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/7102508

50 years of bird studies

This lecture, with the title "Bird identification and taxonomy: what we knew 50 years ago and what we know today", was given at BirdLife Finland's 50th Anniversary in Helsinki on 9 Dec 2023.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDuUMbUOXJs

Lecture on research on Chinese birds

Lecture for students at Beijing Normal University in December 2024 on my research on the systematics and evolution of Chinese passerine birds

https://youtu.be/sf6J8DiyG6Q?feature=shared

"Integrative taxonomy – species delimitation in the 21st century"

Webinar arranged by Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Feb 2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPvjByEkVpE

Per Alström

Publications

Recent publications

All publications

Articles in journal

Chapters in book

Other

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