Vocal Communication Flashcards
Which species claps their mandibles together to produce noise ?
Frigatebirds
Why do woodpeckers drum on hollow branches ?
To capture invertebrates
To communicate
Describe how the Palm Cockatoo generates noise.
Tool use
Uses a stick to drum on hollow logs.
Which system produces vocal communication ?
The respiratory system
What is the role of the larynx in birds ?
Prevents food entering the respiratory tract
no sound production
List the birds that do not have a Syrinx
Ratites, Storks, New world vulture
What noises can birds without syrinx’s make ?
Only Grunts and hisses.
Where is the syrinx located ?
Where the trachea branches into 2 bronchi.
Describe the structure of the Syrinx
Clavicular air sac
Than Syringeal muscles
Trachea
Within each is the internal tympaniform membrane opposite erectile tissue.
How is noise produced in a bird ?
It forces air along the bronchial tube, past the Tympanal membrane
Diameter and protrusion can be adjusted.
As air passes the tympanum vibrates and sound is created.
How can sound produced in the syrinx be modified by the bird ?
Opening & closing beak
& changing its shape.
What is special about the syrinx ?
Very efficient organ
Can use 2 bronchi separately.
Which species can sing with one side of the bronchus whilst breathing through the other ?
Canaries
Which species can double the rate at which they sing using alternation ?
Cowbirds.
sing rapid notes alternating form either side of the bronchus.
Describe the bronchi use of thrushes.
Sing rising notes from one side of the bronchus
Sing falling notes from the other.
