Thursday, 17 July 2014

Non-verbal Communication - Squeeky Pigeons


The Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes is a bit of a show off when it comes to socialising, but doesn't make a huge variety of vocalisations when compared to other species including the Blue Wrens.


During courtship the males tend to be content with strutting, bobbing up and down and cooing while fanning out their tails.






But it is their alarm call - the non-vocal warning that makes them stand out among all the inhabitants of the Garden. This noise is generated by their wing feathers vibrating against the air. 



I wonder if there was a way that dinosaurs could use non verbal signals like this? Perhaps a tail slap or whip crack from a long-tailed sauropod (like Diplodocus), stomping feet and vibrations? This is a puzzle just waiting to be solved.

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