Data from: The influence of wing morphology upon the dispersal, geographical distributions and diversification of the Corvides (Aves; Passeriformes)

New species are sometimes known to arise as a consequence of the dispersal
and establishment of populations in new areas. It has nevertheless been
difficult to demonstrate an empirical link between rates of dispersal and
diversification, partly because dispersal abilities are challenging to
quantify. Here, using wing morphology as a proxy for dispersal ability, we
assess this relationship among the global radiation of corvoid birds. We
found that species distributions are associated with wing shape.
Widespread species (occurring on both islands and continents), and those
that are migratory, exhibit wing morphologies better adapted to
long-distance flight compared with sedentary continental or insular forms.
Habitat preferences also strongly predict wing form, with species that
occur in canopies and/or areas of sparse vegetation possessing dispersive
morphologies. By contrast, we found no significant differences in
diversification rates among either the migratory or habitat
classifications, but species distributed in island settings diversify at
higher rates than those found on continents. This latter finding may
reflect the elevated dispersal capabilities of widespread taxa,
facilitating the radiation of these lineages across insular areas.
However, as the correlations between wing morphology and diversification
rates were consistently weak throughout our dataset, this suggests that
historical patterns of diversification are not particularly well reflected
by present-day wing morphology.