Mockingbirds Advise on Climate Change

Mockingbirds advise on climate change

A BBC report this week revealed that some animals are already sensing global warming, and (sorry for the pun), “tweeting” about it.  Yes, its true, we’re hearing mockingbirds advise on climate change, through variations in their songs.  Scientists have observed a strong connection between the birds’ song complexity and variations in climate.

A study published in Current Biology found that female mockingbirds listen to their male counterparts to determine if they are able to survive harsher winters, before deciding whether they would be a good mate.  As explained by Dr. Carlos Botero of the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center:

“Survival and reproduction become more complicated when weather patterns are unpredictable because you don’t know when food will be available or how long it will be around.

“In really difficult or demanding environments you would expect females to be choosier.”

Dr. Botero and his colleagues collected and studied recordings of the songs of 29 species of mockingbird.  They considered the number of notes sung, patterns of the songs, and overall ability to mimic other sounds – the fundamental trait for which the “mocking” bird is named.

Mockingbird songs can provide cues to climate change

I would have never thought to consider having mockingbirds advise on climate change, but it makes sense that distress or other environmental factors would influence the songs of the birds, particularly since mockingbirds are not born knowing how to sing.  They learn by copying the sounds of other birds, “mocking” them.  With a variable climate, the songs of the male mockingbird now vary more, as well.

Female mockingbirds sense both hardiness and intelligence from these songs.  I’m going to “go out on a limb” here and surmise that the gentler sex is simply not impressed by bird-brained pick-up lines.  Only the real crooners make the cut now!

But in all seriousness, the research is fascinating to consider.  Of course, we can get cues of potential climate change from animal behavior.  We just have to be listening for it.