Mimic birds 'copy other species' (BBC News) (1 Viewer)

B

BF Newsroom

Well-known member

• Apr 6, 2010

• #1

Scientists believe they are a step closer to discovering why some species of bird mimic the sounds made by other birds.

More from BBC News...

 

Azzy

Well-known member

• Apr 6, 2010

• #2

Well, I know that lyrebirds mimic to impress the ladies lol, the greater their 'vocabulary', the more eligible they are.

Interesting article though, thanks for sharing

 

A

Apodemus

Well-known member

• Apr 6, 2010

• #3

BF NewsCaster said:

Scientists believe they are a step closer to discovering why some species of bird mimic the sounds made by other birds.

More from BBC News...

Click to expand...

So they learn how to mimic other birds by listening to their calls and, well, ..... copying them?

Maybe I missed something here. I admit I did read it quite quickly.

Mike

 

Barred Wobbler

Well-known member

• Apr 6, 2010

• #4

Next week we hear about the breaking news that Columbus has discovered a new world across the Atlantic.

 

birdboybowley

Well-known member.....apparently so ;)

• Apr 6, 2010

• #5

Apparently the world is round too....

 

nickderry

C'est pas ma faute, je suis anglais.

• Apr 6, 2010

• #6

birdboybowley said:

Apparently the world is round too....

Click to expand...

burn that heretic!

 

birdboybowley

Well-known member.....apparently so ;)

• Apr 6, 2010

• #7

Burn those scientists more like! Birds mimic by...listening!!!!...mmmm, that is a truly staggering revelation

 

Reuven_M

Well-known member

• Apr 6, 2010

• #8

You're missing the point, it isn't that the bird learn my mimicking other species, but that they DON'T learn by mimicking others of their species

 

birdboybowley

Well-known member.....apparently so ;)

• Apr 6, 2010

• #9

Either way, they still have to listen to do both.....still not awestruck!

 

Xenospiza

Distracted

• Apr 6, 2010

• #10

birdboybowley said:

Either way, they still have to listen to do both.....still not awestruck!

Click to expand...

I am similarly underwhelmed.
How are they supposed to mimic another species if they never mimic another species, but only their own?

There used to be a Blackbird hanging around the site where I work that imitated lorries backing up. Nowadays, only a bad imitation is heard, so I guess that indeed may be a bird that only listened to the original imitator!

 

jurek

Well-known member

• Apr 7, 2010

• #11

More interesting is that many birds mimic only parts of sounds and wove it into their own typical melody.

 

U

username

Well-known member

• Apr 7, 2010

• #12

In general...mimic's interest me....birds 'do it'...and humans 'do it'....

Maybe for the same reason's...?

 

JTweedie

Well-known member

• Apr 7, 2010

• #13

username said:

In general...mimic's interest me....birds 'do it'...and humans 'do it'....

Maybe for the same reason's...?

Click to expand...

To annoy people? Anyone who has experienced this will know how annoying it can be:

Adult "Stop it"
Child "Stop it"

Adult "What did I say?"
Child "What did I say?"

Adult "Stop copying me"
Child "Stop copying me"

Adult "You're being really annoying"
Child "You're being really annoying"

Repeat again and again and again.

 

U

username

Well-known member

• Apr 7, 2010

• #14

JTweedie said:

To annoy people? Anyone who has experienced this will know how annoying it can be:

Adult "Stop it"
Child "Stop it"

Adult "What did I say?"
Child "What did I say?"

Adult "Stop copying me"
Child "Stop copying me"

Adult "You're being really annoying"
Child "You're being really annoying"

Repeat again and again and again.

Click to expand...

:-O

ps...[tho i was thinking more along the lines of picking up regional accents]...