O.T. THIS BIRD TEACHES ITS BABIES A SECRET PASSWORD FOR FOOD.
Posted by Wayne on September 25, 2026, 9:41 am
AUSTRALIAN SUPERB FAIRYWRENS MAY HAVE A WHIMSICAL NAME, BUT COMMUNICATING WITH THEIR UNBORN CHICKS ISN’T MAGIC. WHILE INCUBATING THE EGGS, MOTHERS SING A PARTICULAR NOTE TO THEIR DEVELOPING EMBRYOS. ONCE HATCHED, THE CHICKS INCORPORATE THAT SAME NOTE INTO THEIR BEGGING CALLS.
THIS “SECRET PASSWORD” IS ESPECIALLY USEFUL BECAUSE FAIRYWRENS ARE FREQUENT VICTIMS OF PARASITIC CUCKOOS, BIRDS THAT SNEAK THEIR EGGS INTO OTHER BIRDS’ NESTS IN THE HOPES THEIR BABIES WILL BE FED ALONG WITH THE OTHER BROOD. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT CUCKOO CHICKS DON’T SEEM TO LEARN THE PASSWORD BEFORE HATCHING, GIVING THE FAIRYWRENS A WAY TO IDENTIFY THEIR OWN OFFSPRING — AND KEEP THEIR FOOD IN THE FAMILY.
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- O.T. THIS BIRD TEACHES ITS BABIES A SECRET PASSWORD FOR FOOD. - Wayne September 25, 2026, 9:41 am
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