Birds across continents mimic the same “whining” alarm call to spot nest parasites—despite being separated by millions of years, according to Cornell Chronicle. The study, published Oct. 3 in Nature Ecology and Evolution, is the first to show a vocal warning that’s both learned and instinctive across species.
Researchers found over 20 species use nearly identical calls to fend off brood parasites like cuckoos. Birds instinctively react to the sound, then learn when to use it through social cues—bridging the gap between instinct and learned language.
The findings challenge the idea that human language evolved separately from animal communication. Instead, this global bird behavior hints that language may have emerged from simple calls passed down and shaped by learning.
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