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Critically endangered Regent honeyeater songbirds are learning the tunes of other birds, which is causing them to be spurned by potential mates, a new study finds.
The bird is losing its song culture due to a rapidly declining population, according to new research from The Australian National University (ANU).
Males of the species have been passing on their mating song for thousands of years, but the declining population has meant the song is dying out along with the birds.
Younger males are learning mating songs from other bird species by mistake as there aren t enough adults to teach them, explained lead author Dr Ross Crates.
This 2016 photo provided by Murray Chambers shows a male regent honeyeater bird in Capertee Valley in New South Wales, Australia. The distinctive black and yellow birds were once common across Australia, but habitat loss since the 1950s has shrunk their population to only about 300 wild birds today. (Murray Chambers via AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) Male songbirds usually learn their tunes from adult mentors. But when aspiring crooners lack proper role models, they hit all the wrong notes and have less success attracting mates.
For five years, ecologist Ross Crates has tracked the singing ability and breeding success of critically endangered regent honeyeaters. These distinctive black and yellow birds were once common across Australia, but habitat loss since the 1950s has shrunk their population to only about 300 or 400 wild birds today.
As endangered birds lose their songs, they can t find mates
With only about 300 or 400 birds left in the wild, scientists worry that the loss of their own songs could further accelerate the decline of these distinctive birds. Author: CHRISTINA LARSON AP Science Writer Published: 5:41 AM EDT March 17, 2021 Updated: 5:41 AM EDT March 17, 2021
WASHINGTON Male songbirds usually learn their tunes from adult mentors. But when aspiring crooners lack proper role models, they hit all the wrong notes and have less success attracting mates.
For five years, ecologist Ross Crates has tracked the singing ability and breeding success of critically endangered regent honeyeaters. These distinctive black and yellow birds were once common across Australia, but habitat loss since the 1950s has shrunk their population to only about 300 or 400 wild birds today.
Endangered birds are losing their songs, and can t find mates
Research suggests that critically endangered regent honeyeaters are losing their song language, impacting their ability to find mates. Once their population reaches a very small size, this could accelerate the decline of the species.
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The Associated Press ·
Posted: Mar 17, 2021 11:54 AM ET | Last Updated: March 17
This 2015 photo shows male regent honeyeater birds in Capertee Valley in New South Wales, Australia. The distinctive black and yellow birds were once common across Australia, but habitat loss since the 1950s has shrunk their population to only about 300 wild birds today. (Lachlan Hall/The Associated Press)