Wild Birds Use an Ordering Rule to Decode Novel Call Sequences

摘要: Summary The generative power of human language depends on grammatical rules, such as word ordering, that allow us to produce and comprehend even novel combinations words [1–3]. Several species birds mammals sequences calls [4–6], and, like in sentences, their order may influence receiver responses [7]. However, it is unknown whether animals use call ordering extract meaning from truly sequences. Here, we a experimental approach test this wild bird species, the Japanese tit ( Parus minor ). tits are attracted mobbing predator when they hear conspecific alert recruitment ordered alert-recruitment They also response heterospecific individuals mixed-species flocks [8, 9]. Using playbacks, assess artificial which own combined into different orderings with calls. We find respond similarly Importantly, however, rarely in which is reversed. Thus, compound using an rule. These results demonstrate new parallel between animal communication systems language, opening avenues for exploring evolution rules compositionality vocal