10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 28, 2015

By studying Zebra Finches and domestic chickens, the scientists discovered that multiple sperm appear necessary for a fertilized egg to progress to the embryo stage (a process called “polyspermy”.) This differs from humans and other mammals, in which the addition of extra sperm essentially destroys the egg.

Zebras 145

Zebras Pythons Mammals Eggs 145

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 13, 2023

Even to the author of the paper, who cautiously adds that “nest architecture is unlikely to be irrelevant to females, and its role deserves further investigation” (if swear words were allowed on 10,000 Birds, I would say that he is trying to cover his ass).

Birds 227

Birds Sri Lanka Taiwan Cats 227

10,000 Birds

JUNE 21, 2016

In humans, adults (probably mainly mothers) do this thing called “motherese” which is talking in a way one would normally not talk to another adult, to a baby. Jon Sakata, a professor of neurobiology at McGill, says that songbirds learn vocalizations like humans learn speech. Salmón, J. Nilsson, A. Nord, and S.

Mammals 114

Mammals Zebras Birds Primates 114

10,000 Birds

APRIL 21, 2011

The modal bird song is a song, but not all ‘songs’ are song-like, in the sense that we expect song to come out of the ‘mouth’ (bill) and to consist of modulated air currents (like human voice). These are sonograms representing the song of four Zebra Finches. The top two are individuals with normal song.

Zebras 261

Zebras Birds Humane Raised 261