Penguins' calls are influenced by their habitat

Date:  November 1, 2017

Source:  American Ornithological Society Publications Office

Summary:

Birds use vocalizations to attract mates and defend territories. But while we know a lot about how variations in vocalizations play out in songbirds, it's far less clear how this variation affects birds such as penguins in which calls are inherited. A new study examines the calls of Little Penguins and finds that disparities in habitat, rather than geographic isolation, are the key driver of variation in the sounds these birds use to communicate.

Continued