![]() ![]() To understand which sensory modalities zebra finches use to coordinate their three-dimensional (3D) spatial positions during flocking flight, we recorded the individual vocal behaviour, fine-scale head orientation and spatial position of six adult zebra finches while flying together in the flight section of a large wind tunnel (Fig. In their natural habitat, the semi-arid parts of Australia, zebra finches ( Taeniopygia guttata) form cluster flocks to reduce predation risk while moving between their nesting trees and foraging grounds 16, 17. Anecdotal evidence suggests a potential role of flight calls in group maintenance 14, 15. Although, many bird species are known to emit calls during flight, the function of the so-called ‘flight calls’ is still largely unknown. We hypothesize that besides vision, vocalizations emitted during flight can play a role in spatial coordination of bird flocks. Although vision seems to be the primary channel for birds to gather environmental information, the sensory mechanisms by which information transfer is achieved in flocks of birds during flight are still elusive. Theoretical models, which predict the macroscopic pattern of group movements based on the relative spatial position of group members 8, 9, 10, 11, often assume that each individual in a group visually observes the behaviour of surrounding group mates to adapt their own movements to those of their neighbours 6, 12, 13. To coordinate movements and hence avoid collisions in moving groups, directional information has to be transferred between group members 5, 6, 7. Many bird species fly in groups, either forming highly structured V-shaped flight formations, which can provide energetic benefits 1, 2, or aggregating in dense cluster flocks to reduce predation risk 3, 4. Our study furthers the mechanistic understanding of collective motion in birds and highlights the impact interindividual vocal interactions can have on group performances in these animals. When visual information is insufficient, birds can increasingly exploit active vocal communication to avoid collisions with flock mates. We found that the finches can use both visual and acoustic cues for three-dimensional flock coordination. ![]() To test if vocalizations emitted during flocking flight are used by birds to transmit directional information between group members, we recorded vocal behaviour, head orientation and spatial position of each individual in a small flock of zebra finches ( Taeniopygia guttata) flying in a wind tunnel. Although theoretical models can predict the macroscopic pattern of group movements based on the relative spatial position of group members, it is poorly understood how group members exchange directional information, which enables the spatial coordination between individuals during collective motion. Animal collective motion is a natural phenomenon readily observable in various taxa. ![]()
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