Functional reference in an alarm signal given during nest defence: seet calls of yellow warblers denote brood-parasitic brown-headed cowbirds

Gill, Sharon A.; Sealy, Spencer G.

doi:10.1007/s00265-003-0736-7

Cited by 106 publications

(114 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Discrete alarm calls may also be used to discriminate between predators and brood parasites. For example, male yellow warblers (Setophaga petechia) produce ''seet'' calls when they detect a brood-parasitic cowbird during the egg-laying period (Gill and Sealy 1996), and their mates (females) react with a unique response that prevents brood parasitism, i.e., they rush back to and sit tightly on their nests (Gill and Sealy 2004). Since other types of alarm calls do not elicit such nest protection behaviors in females Sealy 1996, 2004), the ''seet'' calls are considered functionally referential signals that warn females of the presence of a cowbird.…”

Section: Classical Examplementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since other types of alarm calls do not elicit such nest protection behaviors in females Sealy 1996, 2004), the ''seet'' calls are considered functionally referential signals that warn females of the presence of a cowbird. Interestingly, warblers that are allopatric with cowbirds do not vocally discriminate between cowbirds and nest predators and mix different calls into a single mobbing calling bout (Gill and Sealy 2004), suggesting the importance of learning in the usage of discrete call types. Brood-parasite-specific alarm calls have been documented for several discrete lineages of host species such as Parulidae (Gill and Sealy 1996), Maluridae (Langmore et al 2012), and Phylloscopidae (Wheatcroft and Price 2015), but this does not hold true for all host species (Welbergen and Davies 2008).…”

Section: Classical Examplementioning

confidence: 99%

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Semantic communication in birds: evidence from field research over the past two decades

Suzuki

2016

Ecological Research

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What do animal signals mean? This is a central question in studies on animal communication.Research into the semantics of animal signals began in 1980, with evidence that alarm calls of a non-human primate designated predators as external referents. These studies have challenged the historical assumption that such referential signaling is a unique feature of human language and produced a paradigm shift in animal communication research. Over the past two decades, an increasing number of field studies have revealed similar complexity in anti-predator communication of birds. The acoustic structures of avian alarm calls show a high degree of variation in pitch, duration, shape, and repetition rate. In addition to such distinct and graded variations, several birds combine discrete types of notes or calls into higher complex sequences. These variations in alarm calls are typically associated with the predator's attributes, such as predator type and distance, and receivers respond to them with appropriate anti-predator behaviors. Although alarm calls of several bird species, as well as those of monkeys, appear to denote predator attributes, almost nothing is known about the cognitive processes that underlie the production and perception of these signals. In this review, I explore the existing evidence for referential signaling in birds and highlight the importance of the cognitive approach to animal communication research. I hope this review will promote further investigations of alarm-calling behavior in birds and will help enhance our understanding of the ecology and evolution of semantic communication.

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Section: Classical Examplementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Classical Examplementioning

confidence: 99%

Semantic communication in birds: evidence from field research over the past two decades

Suzuki

2016

Ecological Research

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“…Plasticity through learning is likely to be particularly beneficial in recognition of adult brood parasites because it facilitates a rapid response to a novel brood parasite or brood parasite morph (Honza et al 2006, Thorogood and, and defenses will be expressed specifically in response to the parasite (Gill andSealy 2004, Feeney et al 2013). Correspondingly, in European Reed Warblers, frontline adaptations such as nest vigilance and mobbing were mediated according to the perceived risk of brood parasitism (Davies et al 2003, Welbergen andDavies 2009) and were expressed only in response to the local cuckoo morph (Thorogood and Davies 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Superb Fairy-wrens (Malurus cyaneus) increase vigilance near their nest with the perceived risk of brood parasitism

Feeney

Langmore

2015

The Auk

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“…The habitat in which a host nests, which in all likelihood reflects its past exposure to past cowbird parasitism, is a better predictor of desertion in response to parasitism than is the history of a host's recent contact with cowbirds (Hosoi and Rothstein, 2001). These data (see also Rothstein, 2001;Peer and Sealy, 2004a) indicate that host populations that are newly exposed to cowbirds in recent history are unlikely to be prone to extinction solely because of this exposure, although some of these populations may have weaker defenses than conspecific lineages with a continuous history of exposure (Briskie et al, 1992;Gill and Sealy, 2004). Nevertheless, resource managers often ignore this point.…”

Section: Conservation and Cowbirdsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cowbirds, conservation, and coevolution: potential misconceptions and directions for future research

Peer

Rivers²,

Rothstein³

2013

Chinese Birds

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Avian brood parasitism is a model system for studies of coevolution and ecological interactions between parasites and their hosts. However, recent work may have led to misconceptions concerning the Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater), the most widely studied brood parasitic bird in the world, and its effects on host species. Potential misconceptions about this species that could affect management issues are as follows: cowbird populations are increasing; cowbirds are relatively new to North America; recently exposed hosts are defenseless against parasitism; cowbirds have caused widespread declines of songbirds; and cowbird control is always effective in increasing the size of endangered host populations. Potential coevolutionary misconceptions are that cowbirds are typically "host tolerant"; cowbirds evict host nestmates; and the mafia effect is widespread. It is important to clarify these issues because such misconceptions could hinder our understanding of parasite-host interactions, and thus obscure the direction of basic research and of management efforts taken to limit cowbird impacts on endangered species. We discuss these issues and suggest future research directions to enhance our understanding of this fascinating species.

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Functional reference in an alarm signal given during nest defence: seet calls of yellow warblers denote brood-parasitic brown-headed cowbirds

Cited by 106 publications

References 47 publications

Semantic communication in birds: evidence from field research over the past two decades

Semantic communication in birds: evidence from field research over the past two decades

Superb Fairy-wrens (Malurus cyaneus) increase vigilance near their nest with the perceived risk of brood parasitism

Cowbirds, conservation, and coevolution: potential misconceptions and directions for future research

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