BSc Year 1
Comparative Anatomy and Physiology
Year 2:
Sex & Survival
Brain & Behaviour
Year 3:
Animal Behaviour & Conservation
MSc
Practical Techniques
Field course
Behavioural Biology
Avian Biology and Conservation
PhD in the evolution of behaviour, University of Leiden, the Netherlands
2006-2007 Postdoctoral research associate, Cornell Laboratory for Ornithology
Cornell University, USA
2002-2005 Postdoctoral Research Assocate Department of Experimental Psychology
Cambridge University, Cambridge UK
Faculty Ethics committee
Department Athena Swan Group
Current MSc students:
Frances Wrathall: The hunting pressure on the Frugivorous monitor lizzard, Varanus bitatawa
Luke Gullett: The impact of music festival noise on birdsong
Natalie Regan: The ecology and behaviour of the Isabela Oriole
Rebecca Wilson: The impact of aircraft noise on the song of the wren
Vicky Cottrell: Do chiffchaffs employ adaptive song strategies to avoid
masking by aircraft noise?
Current Postgraduate students
Rosaria Santoro: Felid vocalizations and their role in ex situ welfare and in situ conservation
Rebecca Lewis: The evolution of birdsong during ex situ management and the implications of vocal behaviour for conservation programmes. (University of Manchester/Chester zoo)
Former
Andrew Wolfenden: The effects of aircraft noise on avian communication and communities (in Collaboration with Manchester Airport)
Giada Porcedda: The impact of Urban Noise on bird fertility and distribution (in collaboration with the BTO and Ian Hartley, Lancaster University)
Sarah Scott: Using social network analysis to aid conservation management of white rhinoceros ( in Collaboration with Knowsley Safari)
Javier Sierro: The role of vocal consistency in bird communication – a case study in the blue tit (University of Lancaster)
External examiner for PhD viva, Cambridge University, Queen Mary University, Bangor University
I am a behavioural ecologist interested, among other things, in bioacoustics and conservation. I study the impact of humans on wildlife, both in the UK and Tanzania and the Philippines.
I collaborate with a number of organisations and collaborators at other institutes. With Chester zoo I work on a project on breeding biology in Cassowaries. With Dr Ian Hartley (University of Lancaster) I work on the role of song in sexual selection in blue tits. With Dr Hans Slabbekoorn (University of Leiden) I work on the impact of anthropogenic noise on wildlife. Dr. Sarah Collins (Plymouth University) and I collaborate on the behavioural consequences of reintroduction of the Cirl bunting in Devon.
At MMU I work closely with Drs Sue Anne Zollinger, Sanja Potgieter, Gina Cavan and David Megson on the impact of urbanisation on wildlife. With Drs Caroline Bettridge & Bradley Cane I work on the social behaviour aspects of white rhino conservation.
RN. Lewis, M. Soma, SR. de Kort, RT. Gilman (2021). Like Father Like Son: Cultural and Genetic Contributions to Song Inheritance in an Estrildid Finch. Frontiers in Psychology. 12,
G. Fox, R. Preziosi, RE. Antwis, M. Benavides-Serrato, FJ. Combe, et al. WE. Harris, IR. Hartley, AC. Kitchener, S. De Kort, A-I. Nekaris, JK. Rowntree. (2019). Multi-individual Microsatellite identification: a multiple genome approach to microsatellite design (MiMi). Molecular Ecology Resources. 19(6), pp.1672-1680.
SL. Vehrencamp, SR. de Kort, AE. Illes (2017). Response to Kroodsma's critique of banded wren song performance research. Animal Behaviour. 125, pp.25-28.
SR. de Kort, A. Wolfenden (2016). The effect of aircraft noise on bird song. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. 140(4_Supplement), pp.3074-3074.
AE. Leedale, SA. Collins, SR. de Kort (2015). Blackcaps (
M. Tranmer, CS. Marcum, FB. Morton, DP. Croft, SR. de Kort (2015). Using the relational event model (REM) to investigate the temporal dynamics of animal social networks. Anim Behav. 101, pp.99-105.
AM. Lowney, M. Van Weerd, SR. De Kort (2015). Species rank of Isabela Oriole Oriolus isabellae and White-lored Oriole O. albiloris reinforced by song playback responses. Forktail. pp.113-116.
A. Wolfenden, CG. Jones, V. Tatayah, N. Züel, SR. de Kort (2015). Endangered pink pigeons treat calls of the ubiquitous Madagascan turtle dove as conspecific. Animal Behaviour. 99, pp.83-88.
TB. Smith, RJ. Harrigan, ANG. Kirschel, W. Buermann, S. Saatchi, et al. DT. Blumstein, SR. de Kort, H. Slabbekoorn. (2013). Predicting bird song from space. Evolutionary Applications. 6(6), pp.865-874.
SL. Vehrencamp, J. Yantachka, ML. Hall, SR. de Kort (2012). Trill performance components vary with age, season, and motivation in the banded wren. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. pp.1-11.
ANG. Kirschel, H. Slabbekoorn, DT. Blumstein, RE. Cohen, SR. de Kort, et al. W. Buermann, TB. Smith. (2011). Testing alternative hypotheses for evolutionary diversification in an African songbird: rainforest refugia versus ecological gradients. Evolution. 65(11), pp.3162-3174.
SA. Collins, SR. de Kort, J. Pérez-Tris, JL. Tellería (2011). Divergent sexual selection on birdsong: A reply to Byers. Animal Behaviour. 82(5),
ERA. Cramer, ML. Hall, SR. de Kort, IJ. Lovette, SL. Vehrencamp (2011). INFREQUENT EXTRA-PAIR PATERNITY IN THE BANDED WREN, A SYNCHRONOUSLY BREEDING TROPICAL PASSERINE. CONDOR. 113(3), pp.637-645.
SR. de Kort, ERB. Eldermire, S. Valderrama, CA. Botero, SL. Vehrencamp (2009). Trill consistency is an age-related assessment signal in banded wrens. Proc Biol Sci. 276(1665), pp.2315-2321.
CA. Botero, RJ. Rossman, LM. Caro, LM. Stenzler, IJ. Lovette, et al. SR. De Kort, SL. Vehrencamp. (2009). Syllable Type Consistency is Related to Age, Social Status, and Reproductive Success in the Tropical Mockingbird. Anim Behav. 77(3), pp.701-706.
SA. Collins, SR. de Kort, J. Pérez-Tris, JL. Tellería (2009). Migration strategy and divergent sexual selection on bird song. Proc Biol Sci. 276(1656), pp.585-590.
SR. de Kort, ERB. Eldermire, ERA. Cramer, SL. Vehrencamp (2009). The deterrent effect of bird song in territory defense. Behav Ecol. 20(1), pp.200-206.
SR. de Kort, SPC. Correia, DM. Alexis, A. Dickinson, NS. Clayton (2007). The control of food-caching behavior by Western scrub-jays (Aphelocoma californica). J Exp Psychol Anim Behav Process. 33(4), pp.361-370.
TI. Fuisz, SR. de Kort (2007). Habitat-dependent call divergence in the common cuckoo: is it a potential signal for assortative mating?. Proc Biol Sci. 274(1622), pp.2093-2097.
AMP. Von Bayern, SR. De Kort, NS. Clayton, NJ. Emery (2007). The role of food- and object-sharing in the development of social bonds in juvenile jackdaws (Corvus monedula). Behaviour. 144(6), pp.711-733.
PM. Den Hartog, SR. De Kort, C. Ten Cate (2007). Hybrid vocalizations are effective within, but not outside, an avian hybrid zone. Behavioral Ecology. 18(3), pp.608-614.
SR. de Kort, NJ. Emery, NS. Clayton (2006). Food sharing in jackdaws, Corvus monedula: what, why and with whom?. Animal Behaviour. 72(2), pp.297-304.
SR. de Kort, NS. Clayton (2006). An evolutionary perspective on caching by corvids. Proc Biol Sci. 273(1585), pp.417-423.
VV. Pravosudov, SR. de Kort (2006). Is the western scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica) really an underdog among food-caching corvids when it comes to hippocampal volume and food caching propensity?. Brain Behav Evol. 67(1), pp.1-9.
SR. de Kort, A. Dickinson, NS. Clayton (2005). Retrospective cognition by food-caching western scrub-jays. Learning and Motivation. 36(2 SPEC. ISS.), pp.159-176.
SD. Healy, SR. de Kort, NS. Clayton (2005). The hippocampus, spatial memory and food hoarding: a puzzle revisited. Trends Ecol Evol. 20(1), pp.17-22.
RC. Francis, SD. Healy, SR. De Kort, NS. Clayton (2005). It's a puzzle all right: The hippocampus and food hoarding [2] (multiple letters). Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 20(9), pp.476-477.
JR. Lucas, A. Brodin, SR. de Kort, NS. Clayton (2004). Does hippocampal size correlate with the degree of caching specialization?. Proc Biol Sci. 271(1556), pp.2423-2429.
SR. De Kort, C. Ten Cate (2004). Repeated decrease in vocal repertoire size in Streptopelia doves. Animal Behaviour. 67(3), pp.549-557.
SR. de Kort, NJ. Emery, NS. Clayton (2003). Food offering in jackdaws ( Corvus monedula). Naturwissenschaften. 90(5), pp.238-240.
SR. De Kort, PM. Den Hartog, C. Ten Cate (2002). Diverge or merge? The effect of sympatric occurrence on the territorial vocalizations of the vinaceous dove Streptopelia vinacea and the ring-necked dove S. capicola. Journal of Avian Biology. 33(2), pp.150-158.
SR. De Kort, PM. Den Hartog, C. Ten Cate (2002). Vocal signals, isolation and hybridization in the vinaceous dove (Streptopelia vinacea) and the ring-necked dove (S. capicola). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 51(4), pp.378-385.
KP. Johnson, S. de Kort, K. Dinwoodey, AC. Mateman, C. ten Cate, et al. CM. Lessells, DH. Clayton, F. Sheldon. (2001). A Molecular Phylogeny of the Dove Genera Streptopelia and Columba. The Auk. 118(4), pp.874-887.
SR. de Kort, C. ten Cate (2001). Response to interspecific vocalizations is affected by degree of phylogenetic relatedness in Streptopelia doves. Anim Behav. 61(1), pp.239-247.
KP. Johnson, S. De Kort, K. Dinwoodey, AC. Mateman, C. Ten Cate, et al. CM. Lessells, DH. Clayton. (2001). A molecular phylogeny of the dove genera Streptopelia and Columba. Auk. 118(4), pp.874-887.
J. Wright, E. Berg, SR. de Kort, V. Khazin, AA. Maklakov (2001). Safe selfish sentinels in a cooperative bird. Journal of Animal Ecology. 70(6), pp.1070-1079.
J. Wright, E. Berg, SR. De Kort, V. Khazin, AA. Maklakov (2001). Cooperative sentinel behaviour in the Arabian babbler. Animal Behaviour. 62(5), pp.973-979.
P. Scholte, S. de Kort, M. van Weerd (2000). Floodplain rehabilitation in Far North Cameroon: Expected impact on bird life. Ostrich. 71(1-2), pp.112-117.
H. Slabbekoorn, S. De Kort, C. Ten Cate (1999). Comparative analysis of perch-coo vocalizations in Streptopelia doves. Auk. 116(3), pp.737-748.
CA. Botero, SR. de Kort (2013). Learned signals and consistency of delivery: a case against receiver manipulation in animal communication. U. Stegmann. In: Animal Communication Theory. Cambridge University Press, pp.281-296.
SR. De Kort, NJ. Emery, NS. Clayton (2012). Corvid CachingThe Role of Cognition. TR. Zentall, EA. Wasserman. In: The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Cognition. Oxford University Press, pp.390-406.
SRD. Kort, S. Tebbich, JM. Dally, NJ. Emery, S. Clayton (2009). The Comparative Cognition of Caching. EA. Wasserman, TR. Zentall. In: Comparative CognitionExperimental Explorations of Animal Intelligence. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.602-618.
I am an editor for the journal Animal Behaviour https://www.journals.elsevier.com/animal-behaviour
Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB)