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Vocal mimicry in wild African Grey Parrots Psittacus erithacus
Author(s) -
CRUICKSHANK ALICK J.,
GAUTIER JEANPIERRE,
CHAPPUIS CLAUDE
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-919x.1993.tb02846.x
Subject(s) - mimicry , biology , zoology
The ability of captive Grey Parrots Psittacus erithacus to imitate heterospecific sounds is well known. Analysis of a sound recording from Zaire reveals the first evidence of vocal mimicry in the wild of nine species of birds and a bat. Examination of recordings from Gabon and the Ivory Coast indicates that vocal mimicry may be widespread in wild populations. Possible reasons why this phenomenon has not been detected before are discussed.