Bird Recognition Research Articles

Kin recognition in birds

I develop the argument that for a true kin recognition system to evolve, selection must act on both parties: not only must recognition be favored in the donor of care, but reliable identification must be favored in the potential recipient of the care. This perspective suggests two complementary hypotheses, which I discuss and evaluate with data drawn from studies of birds. According to thesignature adaptation hypothesis, when the sender benefits by reliably identifying itself, selection will act directly on phenotypic characters so as to enhance their signature properties. I summarize our studies on parent-offspring recognition in four species of swallows which are consistent with this hypothesis. In particular, acoustical and perceptual analyses of chick calls show that the calls of colonial swallows are more individually distinctive than are the chick calls of noncolonial swallows. According to theantirecognition hypothesis, when the sender doesnot benefit by reliably identifying itself, selection will act so as to minimize signature characteristics. I suggest two contexts for research on this hypothesis. The first context occurs when parentage is uncertain due to extrapair copulations and/or egg-dumping, and the second context occurs when there is a long period between the onset of chick mobility and chick fledging, as occurs typically in gulls. In both instances, parents will be favored to recognize genetic relatedness of offspring but offspring will be favored to conceal it. To date, data from bird studies are consistent with the prediction that the interests of chicks win out in this situation.

Sexual differences in species recognition of avian song

Studies of species recognition in male birds have often identified features that are distinctive, invariant markers of a species song but which can be altered without altering male response1–4. Such results raise the question of why natural selection has favoured the retention of these features in the song. We propose that such features are favoured by selection because females use them in species recognition even though males do not. There are excellent theoretical grounds for expecting that males and females of the same species would differ in their means of species recognition, as required by this hypothesis. We report here that female red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) discriminate against abnormal songs previously shown to be acceptable to males of this species. Similar sexual differences in species recognition may be expected in animals other than birds, and in recognition systems based on cues other than vocalizations.

Ontogeny of Song Recognition in Birds

SYNOPSIS. This paper reviews song recognition in two congeneric species of sparrow the swamp sparrow ( Melospiza georgiana ) and song sparrow ( Melospiza melodia ). Data from psychophysical studies of hearing, tutoring experiments with young birds, and field playback studies with adult birds are considered together in order to gain insight into the mechanisms of species recognition through song development. In aggregate, the evidence suggests a multi-stage process of song development consisting of an early perceptual preference for learning conspecific song, a sensorimotor phase of song development during which vocal output matches an auditory memory as if through trial and error, and a final phase of full song which functions in territorial defense and mate attraction.

The Adaptive Significance of Avian Mobbing

AbstractThe “Cultural Transmission Hypothesis” and the “Alerting Others Hypothesis” of enemy recognition in birds was examined in mobbing experiments with captive blackbirds. Observer birds learned to mob a novel non‐raptorial bird more strongly as a consequence of witnessing another bird mob strongly at the site of presentation. Strength of the observer's enhanced response was comparable to that elicited by a genuine predator. Under identical conditions, observers were also tutored to mob an unnatural, similar‐sized object more strongly than initially but less intensely than to the novel bird after conditioning. Habituation to the novel bird did not impair subsequent conditioning. Cultural Transmission was effective along a “chain” of at least six birds. The phenomenon is discussed in terms of selfish benefits, kin selection and blackbird dispersal.

The Basis for Individual Recognition By Voice in the Sandwich Tern (Sterna Sandvicensis)

Abstract 1. There is a considerable amount of observational evidence to show that in a number of bird species, especially colony-nesting sea birds, a bird's recognition of its mate and the mutual recognition of parent and young may, in certain circumstances, be based upon individual peculiarities of voice. However, with the exception of a preliminary account of the matter in the Guillemot, (Uria aalge), there is no analytical evidence to support these conclusions. 2. The Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis) provides good opportunity for study of one aspect of this problem, namely the individual distinctiveness of the 'fish-call' of the returning parent bird. Different individuals were recorded and the results analysed by sound spectrograph. 3. The fish-call is shown to be composed of three segments of sound; each segment displaying individual characteristics of duration, fine structure, pitch etc. The overall relations between them, the "patterning" of the call, is also shown to be characteristic. 4. The extent to which these separate individual characteristics are recognised as distinctive by birds themselves has not been investigated but it is clear that if the fish-call is to be used as an effective means of individual recognition in a large colony the patterning of the call (in the sense of the 'gestalt' or the overall relationship of the component parts) must play a major role.

Self-perception and species recognition in birds.

If birds reared in isolation learn visual features of their own bodies, they could generalize from such learned perceptions and choose to associate with members of their own species rather than with other species when subsequently placed with other animals. This self-perception hypothesis could account for some published studies showing preferential choice of own species by birds reared in isolation. A series of experiments was conducted to test this hypothesis. Typically, newly-hatched chicks were dyed red, or green, or were left their natural yellow colour. After being reared for 8 days in visual isolation or in small social groups, the chicks were tested in a three-choice test apparatus for their approach to red, green, and yellow chicks. A chick was scored for a choice if it reached a goal-box and tried to push through the separating wire-mesh. In Experiment I, red and green chicks, reared socially or in isolation, were tested for their choice of red, green, and empty goals. The socially-reared chicks clearly chose goal chicks of their own colour. The isolate-reared chicks responded in an indiscriminate manner. In Experiment 2, chicks of the natural yellow colour were used along with red and green ones. Again, social-chicks chose goals of their own body colour, while isolate chicks responded indiscriminately. Some generalization appeared to occur in the social-chick responses, particularly between green and yellow, with green and yellow chicks clearly avoiding the red goal. To a lesser extent, red was generalized to yellow, so that red chicks avoided the green rather than the yellow goals. In Experiment 3, newly-hatched yellow chicks responded to red, green, and yellow goals indiscriminately, showing that they have no innate companion-colour preference. However, 8-day isolate-reared yellow chicks behaved like 8-day social-chicks and avoided red goals in favour of green and yellow ones. Experiment 4 tested an hypothesis that isolate-chicks learn their own colour from their reflection in their drinking water. Green and yellow chicks, reared in isolation for 8 days with no drinking water (which was administered by pipette directly into the crop, either in light or in darkness), failed to show any tendency to choose green and yellow goals preferentially to red and empty goals. In Experiment 5, chicks coloured red, yellow or green were reared in mixed groups; one chick of one colour with two companions of another colour. In this way chicks experienced companions either of one, or of two, colours. The tests at 8-days showed that when two colours had been experienced either colour may be chosen, but that green was more often chosen than might have been expected. It appeared that green was most, and red least, readily learned and responded to. The 'natural' yellow colour tended to be confused with green. Experiment 6 tested for the possibility of individual recognition in 8-day social-chicks by using cage-mates in one of the goals. Responding was indiscriminate in yellow chicks tested in this way with yellow goal chicks. Taken together, these experiments show that newly-hatched chicks have no preference for red, yellow, or green chicks, but that they learn the colour of their companions and selectively approach them by 8-days of age. These results are compared with the published work on colour and approach and following responses in chicks. In general there seems to be more evidence against colour preferences in such responses in newly-hatched chicks. The apparent stronger preference shown by chicks that have experienced colours at the extremes of the visible spectrum could be due to the greater possibilities for generalization in birds trained to colours in the middle of the spectrum. In any event, there seems no doubt that the colour of the companion is learned. The self-perception hypothesis was not supported by the results of Experiments I and 2. However, if the colour groups are combined in Experiment 2, the isolate-chicks appear to have chosen their own body-colour significantly more than would be expected by chance. Furthermore, in Experiment 3 yellow isolate-chicks clearly avoided red goals. It appears, then, that isolates can develop a weak tendency to choose colours not too different from their own body-colour. Experiment 4 showed that such a tendency did not develop if the chicks were not able to see their own reflection. It must be concluded, therefore, that the self-perception hypothesis is tenable at least if perception through reflection in water is included. It is not known whether, in the absence of reflected self-images, such a tendency would develop over a longer period of time through the bird seeing its own body directly. This conclusion is discussed in relation with published studies of species and familial recognition in birds reared in isolation or in the company of other breeds or species.

Review

Abstract Bird Recognition—An Aural Index, by Victor C. Lewis. Recorded and published by His Master's Voice, E.M.I. Records, London 1965–6. 3 vols. Price per volume, 32s 3d. Obtainable from the British Trust for Ornithology.

How to Know the Birds. An Introduction to Bird Recognition Roger Tory Peterson

How to Know the Birds. An Introduction to Bird Recognition Roger Tory Peterson

Naming of Birds as Part of the Intellectual Culture of Indians at Old Crow, Yukon Territory

Lists common, scientific and local native names for 103 species of birds found in this area. Recognition and naming of birds was done with great accuracy and completeness by the Kutchin Indian informant, suggesting the ability to be the result of an anciently perfected system of intellectual culture. Comparison with North Alaskan Eskimo bird names disclosed only two of 91 species with the same name, indicating the paucity of intellectual culture exchanges in contrast to the more liberal material cultural exchanges of these neighboring peoples.

Bird Recognition. III. Rails, Game-Birds and Larger Perching and Singing Birds. James Fisher

Previous articleNext article No AccessNew Biological BooksBird Recognition. III. Rails, Game-Birds and Larger Perching and Singing Birds. James Fisher Henri C. SeibertHenri C. Seibert Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The Quarterly Review of Biology Volume 31, Number 2Jun., 1956 Published in association with Stony Brook University Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/401328 PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

Bird Recognition. II. Birds of Prey and Water Fowl

Bird Recognition. II. Birds of Prey and Water Fowl

How to Know the Birds. An Introduction to Bird Recognition Roger Tory Peterson

How to Know the Birds. An Introduction to Bird Recognition Roger Tory Peterson

A Banker Naturalist

BY the sudden death of Mr. Henry Evans on July 23 the Midlands have lost a well-known and wealthy banker, and the West Highlands of Scotland an equally well-known deer-stalker, yachtsman and naturalist. Born in 1831, he was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, graduated there, and was a member of the Senate of the University to the end of his life, coming up from time to time to record his vote on matters of importance. Early in his career he appears to have developed a love of natural history pursuits, for while an undergraduate he became an associate of the Ray Club, of which there are only six at a time, chosen on account of some proved zeal in these studies. He took at that time to entomology, and made a collection of British Lepidoptera. Even up to the end of his life, when he had long abandoned these early predilections, he was still proud of his insect cabinet, and especially of the numerous and fine specimens which it included of the now extinct English large copper butterfly. Being the youngest son of a banker, he naturally became a partner in his father's bank, that of Messrs. W. and S. Evans and Co., of Derby, and on its amalgamation with another firm he was made a director of the new company, Crompton Evans Union Bank. But though a shrewd and capable man of business, he never mingled in public affairs. The leisure of his younger years was largely given to rifle-shooting, in which he grew to be one of the best shots in the country. He competed at the Wimbledon meetings of the National Rifle Association until a lamentable accident occurred to him at one of the practices, when the rifle of a companion was unwittingly discharged against his leg. Three successive amputations were necessitated, and he had to go up on crutches to receive a prize wrhich he had won. This disaster, however, was not allowed to deprive him of his favourite sport. He had become an expert shot among the red deer of the Scottish forests and the seals of the coast of Connemara, and with indomitable courage he now availed himself of the help of a pony and continued his campaigns among the mountains with more success than ever. In one season he fired fifty-two shots and killed fifty deer. After renting various tracts of ground in the Highlands, he finally, in 1875, leased the forest which comprises the extensive mountain ground in the centre of the island of Jura. Choosing a tract of bare moorland that sloped down to the sea, he built there a comfortable mansion-house, surrounding it with trees and shrubs and flowers, covering it with roses, and ingeniously devising expedients that baffled the Atlantic blasts and enabled his vegetation to bloom and spread. This charming Highland retreat became his home for some months every season for nearly thirty years, and he lingered longer there as time went on until eventually he spent more than half of each year in Jura. But though deer-stalking was the original and predominant motive for these prolonged northern sojourns, he was far more than a mere sportsman. His early love of natural history pursuits found an ample field for development in his island home, but it was to the birds that he now gave his attention. Gifted with excellent eyesight, Mr. Evans was an acute and accurate observer. The rapidity and exactness of his recognition of birds on the wing were so remarkable that to friends who accompanied him it almost seemed as if he were the happy possessor of another sense beyond the number allotted to ordinary mortals. He made his mountains and moors in Jura a perfect paradise for wild birds. No gun or trap was ever allowed to be used against them, and everything was done that would induce them to frequent the district.