AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Parent-offspring recognition in bank swallows (Riparia riparia): II. Development and acoustic basis

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1981
Authors:Beecher, MD, Beecher, IM, Hahn, S
Journal:Animal Behaviour
Volume:29
Issue:1
Date Published:1981
ISBN Number:0003-3472
Keywords:Hirundinidae, Hirundo, Hirundo rustica, Riparia, Riparia riparia
Abstract:In study 1, bank swallow (Riparia riparia) chicks were exchanged with like-aged chicks from other broods. Parents accepted chicks that were transferred into their nests at age 15 days or younger; rejection began to occur at 16 to 17 days. In study 2, chicks' vocalizations were recorded in the burrow. We found that an immature begging call given by young chicks is replaced by a [`]signature' call at 15 to 17 days of age. An acoustic analysis suggested that these calls are individually distinctive. Study 3 was a playback experiment designed to test whether the chicks' signature calls are a sufficient cue for parental recognition. We found that parents would approach a speaker broadcasting the calls of their chicks in preference to one simultaneously broadcasting the calls of alien chicks. The pattern of results suggests that parental recognition is based on the chicks' signature calls and that development of recognition is dependent on the development of the call.
URL:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000334728180156X
Short Title:Animal Behaviour
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