Sound From Bird Wings Act As a Predator Alarm

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday September 2, 2009 @05:40PM from the that-noise-means-something-terrible-for-you dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Biologists have discovered that a species of Australian pigeon has a secret way of alerting fellow birds to predators — a 'whistle' emitted by flapping wings when the bird takes off in alarm. The crested pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes) is well known for the abrupt metallic-sounding whistle that it makes on takeoff. Many birds have the ability to make vocal cries to alert other members of their flock, but this is the first study to show that flight noise can also serve as an alarm call."

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Really? by acehole · 2009-09-02 18:14 · Score: 5, Funny

I would have thought the 3 laser dots on your chest or the bodies hung upside down in trees would have been pretty good signs of a predator.

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Re:Shame they're so paranoid by lastgoodnickname · 2009-09-02 20:23 · Score: 5, Funny

french birds run away sooner?