3/18/2023 0 Comments Soma taptempo![]() Much research has focussed on male–female directed courtship displays performed by polygynous male birds, while the occurrence of both male–female and female–male directed courtship displays performed by socially monogamous birds has often been overlooked. Thus, by coordinating visual and acoustic displays without interference between display components, polygynous male birds can better convey sexual signals 6, 7, 10. Males of polygynous species (e.g., spiders 3, frogs 4, fishes 5 and birds 6, 7) use multimodal courtship displays to increase the efficacy of signalling 8, 9. The fact that both sexes of this socially monogamous songbird perform such a complex courtship display is a novel finding and suggests that the evolution of multimodal courtship display as an intersexual communication should be considered.Įlaborate courtship displays are assumed to have evolved under strong sexual selection pressure in males 1, 2. The multimodal (acoustic, visual, tactile) and multicomponent (vocal and non-vocal sounds) courtship display observed was a combination of several motor behaviours (singing, bobbing, stepping). Both male and female cordon-bleus intensified their dance performances when their mate was on the same perch. Dance performances did not differ between sexes but varied among individuals. By recording these displays with a high-speed video camera, we discovered that in addition to bobbing, their visual courtship display includes quite rapid step-dancing, which is assumed to produce vibrations and/or presumably non-vocal sounds. In the blue-capped cordon-bleu ( Uraeginthus cyanocephalus), a socially monogamous songbird, both sexes perform courtship displays that are characterised by singing and simultaneous visual displays. While it is well-known that socially monogamous songbird males sing to attract females, we report here the first example of a multimodal dance display that is not a uniquely male trait in these birds. Currently, she is collaborating with music researchers from Keio University to better analyze Cordon-bleu tap dancing.According to classical sexual selection theory, complex multimodal courtship displays have evolved in males through female choice. If they can score the degree of automation, then it would be easier to judge their skill. Soma and her team are hoping to find out how much the birds can automate their motions. Especially when the tempo is extremely fast, it is a very difficult task to do. “Looking at the size difference between birds and humans, it may not be surprising, but since we share some physiological and neural mechanisms, it’s interesting to look at that aspect as well.”ĭrumming requires perfect coordination in both hands, and sometimes even a professional drummer fails to do this. “Unexpectedly, the analyses unveiled that the tapping behavior of Cordon-bleus is faster than the world’s fastest drummer,” said Dr. We could capture up to 300 frames per second and trace their movements,” explained Dr. “What was really exciting for us was when we observed the dancing behavior of Cordon-bleus with a high-speed video camera. Soma and her team record and analyze their singing and body motions, as well as other social behaviors. Using simple audiovisual equipment: a sound recorder, video camera, PC and preferably a soundproof box, Dr.
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