![]() Vocal communication plays an important role for a variety of social animals, because it is often directly linked with individual survival and successful reproduction. Future research could investigate the role of calls in group communication in more detail-possibly even in the wild-and how calling behaviour is reflected in the brain. show that both the timing and types of calls used in pair communication are important for successful breeding. Pairs that performed more of these call exchanges during nesting were more likely than others to lay a clutch of eggs. Calls often featured precisely timed back-and-forth calling interactions, and, over time, were directed more and more towards their partner than other members of the group. While doing so, and especially when pairs began building nests, the birds changed how often they used certain calls and started using different call types for example, they made more breeding-related ‘cackles’. ![]() The finches quickly formed breeding pairs, and when provided with nesting material, began building nests and laying eggs. This was done using a technique called microphone telemetry that involves placing tiny wireless microphones on the birds. brought together in groups female and male zebra finches that had not met before, and followed their individual calls during different breeding stages. To find out about the role of zebra finch calls in relation to different environmental or social factors, Gill et al. Therefore, even in captivity, they will readily breed when given nesting material. To ensure successful breeding, zebra finches need to begin breeding activities as soon as the unpredictable environment allows. In their natural habitat, Australia, these chatty birds pair for life and live in groups. Zebra finches are highly vocal songbirds, with males singing and both females and males producing calls. Therefore, it is still unclear what information is communicated by these calls and how important they are. ![]() ![]() Because calls are often given in social situations, they are difficult to record and to assign to the correct individual. Call-type combinations of vocal interactions changed within pairs and were associated with successful egg-laying, highlighting a potential fitness relevance of calling dynamics in communication systems.Īs the name implies, songbirds produce song, but they may also emit large numbers of shorter calls. ![]() The recordings revealed that calls occurred non-randomly in fine-tuned vocal interactions and decreased within groups while pair-specific patterns emerged. As birds formed pairs and shifted their reproductive status, their call repertoire composition changed. Using on-bird microphone transmitters, we recorded the vocalisations of individual zebra finches ( Taeniopygia guttata) behaving freely in social groups, while females and males previously unknown to each other passed through different stages of the breeding cycle. However, call interactions and call dynamics within groups remain largely unexplored because their relation to relevant contexts or life-history stages could not be studied with individual-level resolution. Vocal signals such as calls play a crucial role for survival and successful reproduction, especially in group-living animals. ![]()
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