Rifleman, NZ's smallest bird may be 'missing link' in birdsong evolution: study

No-one thought New Zealand 's smallest bird, called the titipounamu or rifleman, could learn new calls.

Scientists used to think birds were divided into two groups: those that learn or copied sounds from their environment, such as parrots and songbirds, and those whose tweets and cheeps were simply innate.

They also analysed the birds' DNA to establish which adults were parents of the nestlings, and which were unrelated "helpers" that also delivered meals to the chicks.The researchers wanted to know if the wrens' calls were innate and already written in their genes, or a learned behaviour influenced by their social environment.By analysing riflemen "voiceprints", researchers found the birds changed their vocalisations to sound more like the birds they associated with.

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Songbirds Rifleman Acanthisitti Chloris Vocal Learning Animal Communication New Zealand Wren

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