Ecology and conservation of cavity-nesting birds in the Neotropics: Recent advances, future directions, and contributions to ornithology.

This article reviews recent advances and future research directions on the ecology and conservation of cavity-nesting birds in the Neotropics, a region hosting about 35% of the world's tree-cavity-nesting bird species. It synthesizes progress since a 2008 review, highlighting that most Neotropical cavity adopters rely on non-excavated cavities formed by wood decay, with cavity availability often limited and influenced by environmental and social factors. The authors emphasize the importance of integrating Indigenous and local knowledge, updating species lists with accurate nesting data, expanding the nest web concept to include diverse cavity substrates and nest types, and adopting social-ecological frameworks to understand human–bird relationships. The article introduces a Special Feature series presenting field studies across the Neotropics and calls for collaborative, culturally sensitive research to inform conservation and deepen understanding of cavity-nesting bird communities.