Patterns of tick infestation on songbirds: Implications for niche partitioning and pathogen transmission

Hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) were found to aggregate on specific regions of their vertebrate hosts, leading to potential competition for attachment sites and increased opportunities for pathogen transmission. While this phenomenon is well-documented in mammals, comparable research on birds, particularly songbirds (Order: Passeriformes), remains limited due to their small body size and typically low tick burdens. This study aims to characterize tick infestation patterns on songbirds by documenting the number, species, life stages, and feeding success of ticks across different body locations. Specifically, we will 1) identify the most frequently used body regions by ticks, 2) assess niche partitioning among tick species and life stages, 3) investigate co-feeding events with implications for non-systemic pathogen transmission, and 4) analyze factors influencing tick engorgement using a standardized engorgement scoring matrix. Our findings will advance our understanding of tick feeding on avian hosts and the role birds play in the dynamics of tick-borne disease transmission.