A study in Barcelona suggests that more sociable Monk Parakeets develop a more diverse vocal repertoire. The research, conducted with 337 Monk Parakeets, offers insights into the evolution of complex communication in animals.
Monk Parakeets, an invasive species in Barcelona, live in large urban colonies and communicate constantly. Scientists see this as a unique opportunity to study how social relationships influence communication.
Researchers observed 337 parakeets over two years, documenting interactions and recording 5,599 vocalizations. The study revealed that parakeets in larger groups emitted a greater variety of sounds.
Females also showed a broader vocal repertoire than males, which is uncommon among birds. Simeon Smeele suggests this is because females use certain calls more frequently in social contexts, making them more sociable.
Joan Carles Senar adds that parakeets with more central positions in social networks also tend to have richer vocabularies. Interestingly, close friends had more differentiated calls, as if trying to sound distinct within the group.
The team's next challenge is to decipher the meaning of each sound. The results could help understand how complex communication systems evolve in the animal kingdom and how elements comparable to human language arise.