NewScientist The Last Word

The birds In New Zealand one of our radio stations broadcasts native birdsong each morning. It is obvious that seabirds have a much harsher screeching sound than the more melodious bush and land-based birds. In fact, I can usually tell a bird's habitat simply by the sound it makes. Why is there such a difference, and is it the same throughout the world?John Finlayson, Maungaturoto, New Zealand
(no votes)

Categories: Animals.

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Reply	David Heigham says: The sounds that birds make are presumably for communication. ("All birds can talk" as a thoughtful grey parrot once told me.)Sceeching sounds carry much better in the high winds that sea and coastal birds have to contend with. (no votes) Tags: weather, animals.
	posted on 2008-09-04 15:22:00 \| Report abuse

Reply	Keith the allotment holder says: I remember an article in NS that stated that birds in towns were developing calls at a different pitch from their rustic counterparts, the better to carry over the constant drone of traffic.It was even stated that the Blackbird population was splitting into two distinct race. (no votes) Tags: weather, animals.
	posted on 2008-09-16 16:17:00 \| Report abuse

Reply	Keith the allotment holder says: Should have Googled befremaking my comment! See See the article on GreenChange (no votes) Tags: weather, animals.
	posted on 2008-09-16 16:52:00 \| Report abuse

Reply	Bela de Lune1 says: I am interested in your statement that you can tell a bird's habitat by the sound it makes. Do you think that peacocks live on the ocean? (no votes) Tags: weather, animals.
	posted on 2008-11-07 08:52:00 \| Report abuse

Reply	Michael Marshall says: This answer was selected and edited by New ScientistBirdsong indeed varies by habitat type because the habitat has a profound effect on how these long-distance signals are transmitted. To minimise habitat-induced degradation, the acoustic adaptation hypothesis predicts that birds living in dense forests will have slower and more tonal calls, while those living in more open habitats will have faster-paced and buzzier calls.The effect is most pronounced when comparing contrasting habitat types, such as very open and very closed ones. Other factors, including the songs of species competing for acoustic space and the songs produced by closely related species, can also play a role.Daniel T. Blumstein, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, US (no votes) Tags: weather, animals.
	posted on 2009-05-06 15:36:00 \| Report abuse

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