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The deadly H5N1 avian influenza virus, which has killed millions of birds worldwide since 2021—and in rare cases can be transmitted to humans—may be spread through the food-stealing behavior of some seabirds.

A study published in the journal Conservation Letters highlights food theft—also known as "kleptoparasitism," where some seabird species like frigatebirds and skuas force other birds to regurgitate their prey—as a possible transmission path for the spread of avian flu.

Led by scientists from UNSW Sydney's Centre for Ecosystem Science and involving BirdLife International, Deakin University, and Monash University, the researchers analyzed existing information about frigatebird and skua distribution, behavior and movements, while searching through a global database for records of them contracting the virus. They also looked at the literature available to see which species of seabird the frigatebirds and skua target with kleptoparasitism.

Lead author Simon Gorta from UNSW Science says the study could provide a new focus in determining how and where the spread of the deadly virus may originate and how it could be transmitted among individuals, populations, and at the continental or ocean-basin scale.

"Understanding transmission is critical to monitoring and management efforts, particularly when at-risk species or regions are involved, and it's helpful to understand threats to other animals and people," says Gorta, a Ph.D. student with UNSW.

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