Despite geographical and evolutionary diversity, over 20 bird species across four continents produce nearly identical distress calls in response to threats from parasitic species that lay their eggs in others' nests.
This is the first known observation of vocalization that combines innate and learned elements across different species.
Such behavior helps birds warn their peers of danger and learn to recognize enemies through social learning. Young individuals, upon hearing this signal, react instinctively, which contributes to the collective protection of nests.
The unique sound represents an important step in understanding the evolution of communication, serving as a link between the instinctive cries of animals and fully learned forms of communication, such as human speech.
The study expands the understanding of the origins of language and emphasizes that the mechanisms of social learning and instinct can coexist, forming the basis for complex communication systems.
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