Audible Or Sexy? Avian Vocal Tradeoffs Are Associated With Noise Pollution

Several species of bird are known to adjust their vocalizations in response to anthropogenic noises, but, since the first report of this trend in 2003, researchers have wondered about the long-term implications of this behavior. In particular, they have stressed the need to improve our understanding of whether these vocal manipulations reduce the ability of birds to communicate effectively, and whether the production of variant songs reduces breeding success--for instance, by making males less attractive to females, or less threatening to rival males. read more

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