Birds
Twenty bird species understand each other's anti-cuckoo calls
4 Mwezi wa kumi, 2025 Imeripotiwa na 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.
Birds worldwide share evolved warning cry against parasites
8 Mwezi wa kumi, 2025 Imeripotiwa na 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.