A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Two sympatric species of passerine birds imitate the same raptor calls in alarm contexts
Authors: Ratnayake C., Goodale E., Kotagama S.
Publication year: 2010
Journal: The Science of Nature - Naturwissenschaften
Journal name in source: Naturwissenschaften
Volume: 97
Issue: 1
First page : 103
Last page: 108
Number of pages: 6
ISSN: 0028-1042
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-009-0617-7
Abstract
While some avian mimics appear to select sounds randomly, other species preferentially imitate sounds such as predator calls that are associated with danger. Previous work has shown that the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus) incorporates predator calls and heterospecific alarm calls into its own species-typical alarm vocalizations. Here, we show that another passerine species, the Sri Lanka Magpie (Urocissa ornata), which inhabits the same Sri Lankan rainforest, imitates three of the same predator calls that drongos do. For two of these call types, there is evidence that magpies also use them in alarm contexts. Our results support the hypothesis that imitated predator calls can serve as signals of alarm to multiple species. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.
While some avian mimics appear to select sounds randomly, other species preferentially imitate sounds such as predator calls that are associated with danger. Previous work has shown that the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus) incorporates predator calls and heterospecific alarm calls into its own species-typical alarm vocalizations. Here, we show that another passerine species, the Sri Lanka Magpie (Urocissa ornata), which inhabits the same Sri Lankan rainforest, imitates three of the same predator calls that drongos do. For two of these call types, there is evidence that magpies also use them in alarm contexts. Our results support the hypothesis that imitated predator calls can serve as signals of alarm to multiple species. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.
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