Professor of Biology
Director and Curator of Vertebrates, Hoslett Museum of Natural History

Teaching Duties: Vertebrate Natural History, Animal Behavior, Ornithology, Environmental Conservation, Biodiversity (Paideia II).

Directed Research: Behavior and ecology of birds.

Current Research:

- distribution of color morphs of the Eastern Screech-Owl in Iowa
- spring migration of birds in northeastern Iowa
- use patterns and behavior at a Turkey Vulture roost in northeastern Iowa

Recent Publications:

Sordahl, T. A. 1996. Breeding biology of the American Avocet and Black-necked Stilt in northern Utah. Southwestern Naturalist 41:348-354

Sordahl, T. A. 1996. A checklist of the birds of San Salvador Island, Bahamas. Pp. 144-151 in Proceedings of the 6th Symposium on the Natural History of the Bahamas (N. B. Elliott, D. C. Edwards, and P. J. Godfrey, eds.). Bahamian Field Station, San Salvador, Bahamas.

Larsen, T., T. A. Sordahl, and I. Byrkjedal. 1996. Factors related to aggressive nest protection behaviour: a comparative study of Holarctic waders. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 58:409-439.

Sordahl, T.A., and J. Leppaluoto. 1997. The Peabody-Bordner Bird Egg and Nest Collection at Luther College's Hoslett Museum of Natural History. Iowa Bird Life 67:110-116.

Sordahl, T.A. 2001. Copulatory behavior of American Avocets and Black-necked Stilts. Auk 118: 1072-1076.

Sordahl, T.A., S.L. McMartin, and B.M. Volz. 2002. Phenology of a Killdeer population in northeastern Iowa. Iowa Bird Life 72: 69-77.

Sordahl, T.A. 2004. Field evidence of predator discrimination abilities in American Avocets and Black-necked Stilts. Journal of Field Ornithology 75:376-385.

Sordahl, T.A. 2006. Field experiments on eggshell removal by Mountain Plovers. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 118: 59-63.

McVey, K.J., P.D.B Skrade, and T.A. Sordahl. 2008. Use of a communal roost by Turkey Vultures in northeastern Iowa. Journal of Field Ornithology 79:170-175.

Evans, B.A., and T.A. Sordahl. 2009. Factors influencing perch selection by communally-roosting Turkey Vultures. Journal of Field Ornithology 80: in press.

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Revised August 2009