We use molecular phylogenies and population genetic studies of closely related bird species to study character evolution, speciation, and systematics. Recent research has focused on the New World orioles (Icterus), as well as Holarctic ducks (Anas), and the raven group (Corvus corax). We are interested in plumage color evolution, and a variety of topics related to recent speciation, including lineage sorting, hybridization and building phylogenetic trees of recently diverged species.