News Animals

Crested pigeons sound the alarm with their wings

Specialized feathers produce high and low tones when the birds flee in a hurry

crested pigeon flying

BEAT IT  Crested pigeons coordinate their escapes with wing sounds rather than vocal calls. The sound production is tied to wing movement during takeoff, and thus a highly reliable alarm signal, researchers say.

Geoffrey Dabb

By Helen Thompson

Crested pigeons communicate without even opening their beaks. The birds have a built-in alarm system that’s set off by fluttering feathers when flying away from danger, researchers report November 9 in Current Biology.