Professor Rising's research is with the evolution, systematics, and ecology of birds. He has worked on the hybridization and behaviour of New World orioles, and geographic variation, sexual dimorphism, and systematics of New World sparrows. At present, he is engaged in research on the geographic variation and systematics of Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis), the systematics of grassland sparrows, and the relationships of the sparrows of the genus Aimophila. He is also interested in conservation issues, and is working on the stability of populations of songbirds, specifically those that winter in the Neotropics.