Birds

Birds worldwide share evolved warning cry against parasites

October 08, 2025 Iniulat ng AI

An international team of researchers has discovered that birds across four continents produce nearly identical whining vocalizations to warn against brood parasites. This learned response builds on an innate sound, marking the first known example of such a hybrid vocalization in animals. The findings, published October 3 in Nature Ecology and Evolution, highlight how natural selection shapes cooperative communication.

Study reveals reasons for birds' dawn chorus

Experiments with zebra finches suggest that darkness suppresses birds' singing motivation overnight, leading to an intense dawn chorus when light arrives. The research also indicates that this singing helps optimize vocal structures. While promising, experts caution that the findings may not fully explain the phenomenon across all species.

Twenty bird species understand each other's anti-cuckoo calls

October 04, 2025 Iniulat ng AI

Researchers have discovered that 20 different bird species can recognize and respond to each other's warning calls against cuckoos, a common brood parasite. This finding highlights a rare level of cross-species communication in the animal kingdom. The study, based on observations in Japan, was published on September 25, 2024.