Cuckoo in the nest

[Pappa]

Cuckoos are a great illustration to use in any nature vs. nurture debate. We know it's at least possible that all of an organism's behaviours can be genetically programmed because the cuckoo isn't taught any of its behaviours.

[mistermack]

I've never heard a lyrebird,

I've heard a few liarbirds in my time. Beautiful plumage.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

I've never heard a lyrebird,

I've heard a few liarbirds in my time. Beautiful plumage.

[Hermit]

My ex partner recorded this about five years ago. I think there's a mix of genetic and learnt behaviour in it. The power pole stands half a metre beyond the back fence of the garden.



I could not find a sample by a blackbird, currawong or lyrebird that sounds even remotely like it. Can anyone help out identifying what species of bird this is?

[piscator]

My ex partner recorded this about five years ago. I think there's a mix of genetic and learnt behaviour in it. The power pole stands half a metre beyond the back fence of the garden.



I could not find a sample by a blackbird, currawong or lyrebird that sounds even remotely like it. Can anyone help out identifying what species of bird this is?

[Hermit]

That catbird is a great mimic. The Australian lyrebird is probably more versatile in regard to where it sources its sounds from though, and reproduces them with greater verisimilitude.



I wonder about the bloke this cocky associated with. If Scumple lived in South Australia he'd be a likely suspect.



This cockatiel tops the lot.

[Calilasseia]

Look up the FOXP2 gene in the case of bird song. FOXP2 has been a major player in the evolution of bird song for 100 million years or more.

[lofuji]

Look up the FOXP2 gene in the case of bird song. FOXP2 has been a major player in the evolution of bird song for 100 million years or more.

Thanks for the tip. So far, I've only been able to find articles that are beyond my ability to fully understand, but I do get the general idea.

And now for a related question: the koel has a call that consists of a short glissando repeated at intervals of 1-3 seconds. It starts off fairly quietly but gets progressively louder, and the interval between calls becomes shorter. At some point it produces an overblow (the same effect that you get if you blow a whistle too hard), at which point it stops. Usually. I occasionally hear what I've dubbed a "shameless" koel, the individual that keeps going even though it's merely squeaking pathetically. It smacks of an individual desperately trying to impress (females? other males?). The large hawk cuckoo, which is so loud you can hear one a kilometre away, displays similar behaviour, and listening to two trying to out-shout each other is one of the main attractions around these parts at this time of year. Am I right in assuming that the way these birds present their calls is related to the desire to mate, or are they simply trying to defend a territory? Or both?

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Look up the FOXP2 gene in the case of bird song. FOXP2 has been a major player in the evolution of bird song for 100 million years or more.

Thanks for the tip. So far, I've only been able to find articles that are beyond my ability to fully understand, but I do get the general idea.

And now for a related question: the koel has a call that consists of a short glissando repeated at intervals of 1-3 seconds. It starts off fairly quietly but gets progressively louder, and the interval between calls becomes shorter. At some point it produces an overblow (the same effect that you get if you blow a whistle too hard), at which point it stops. Usually. I occasionally hear what I've dubbed a "shameless" koel, the individual that keeps going even though it's merely squeaking pathetically. It smacks of an individual desperately trying to impress (females? other males?). The large hawk cuckoo, which is so loud you can hear one a kilometre away, displays similar behaviour, and listening to two trying to out-shout each other is one of the main attractions around these parts at this time of year. Am I right in assuming that the way these birds present their calls is related to the desire to mate, or are they simply trying to defend a territory? Or both?

Yes.

(Some) birds establish territory as a part of their mating rituals. The best calls - not always the loudest, sometimes the most intricate - indicate the "fittest" birds and they get to maintain the largest territory and attract the pick of the females. Subsidiary to this is the feeding rights in the territory - but, again, this edges into mating territory. The female thinks, "Hmmm, what a great singer, must have a huge territory in a prime site with plenty of foodz for my chix - I'll go fuck him!"

[JimC]

I stake out my mating territory with a rather alluring border of empty gin bottles...

[Xamonas Chegwé]

I stake out my mating territory with a rather alluring border of empty gin bottles...

I just get my cock out in Tesco.

[piscator]

[mistermack]

I could not find a sample by a blackbird, currawong or lyrebird that sounds even remotely like it. Can anyone help out identifying what species of bird this is?

Closest thing in the UK is a nightingale or blackbird. It's like a cross between the two.

Song thrushes sound a bit like it too, but they tend to repeat phrases.

[JimC]

I could not find a sample by a blackbird, currawong or lyrebird that sounds even remotely like it. Can anyone help out identifying what species of bird this is?

Closest thing in the UK is a nightingale or blackbird. It's like a cross between the two.

Song thrushes sound a bit like it too, but they tend to repeat phrases.

We have blackbirds (introduced) here, so maybe that was it...

[mistermack]

I could not find a sample by a blackbird, currawong or lyrebird that sounds even remotely like it. Can anyone help out identifying what species of bird this is?

Closest thing in the UK is a nightingale or blackbird. It's like a cross between the two.

Song thrushes sound a bit like it too, but they tend to repeat phrases.

We have blackbirds (introduced) here, so maybe that was it...

Seems a bit harsh. I wonder what they did, to get transported ? Stealing worms?
This is a blackbird, with a scottish accent :