How does a sparrow KNOW it's shagging another sparrow? Chaffinches & the like are the same size as a sparrow, but they don't go trying it on with them, do they? It can't be through scent, surely - they only have lickle nose-holes.
2007-08-14 07:19:36 · 14 answers · asked by peter b 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Behaviors in the mating process, such as dances or calls, are good signs. So is appearance - what may seem a trivial difference to you or I is a huge difference to a sparrow or a finch.
Same way that someone who's really trained or acculturated to notice the difference can tell you who's a swede and who's a finn, or who's chinese and who's japanese.
2007-08-14 07:25:03 · answer #1 · answered by Brian L 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A lot of male birds have a distinctive call. When they make that sound only their corresponding females show up for the party.
I guess that if some lady finch who was tone-deaf showed up too then the party just got larger.
2007-08-14 15:29:10 · answer #2 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"SPECIES"??? I'm forced to wonder just HOW birds differentiate even between SEXES, what with NO external genitalia. In MY personal opinion, the Birds are an unnoticed species of ALIEN. In very many ways, they are as different from your kind as Atheists are different from Christians. Consider THIS: Just how many mammals, Humans and Demons included, have you seen giving birth through their own ANUS???
2007-08-14 14:51:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
birds have really good eyesight so they can easily tell each other apart just by their plummage. they also use species-specific bird calls and songs to find each other. and many birds do have a surprisingly good sense of smell, too, despite their less-than-impressive shnozes ^_^
2007-08-14 14:25:21 · answer #4 · answered by Fey Wind 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well mostly they tell by what type of song they sing, or the color of their feathers, the difference between the behaviors of the male and of the female. as we all know, the males are more brightly colored than the females...and also, it would be like bi-racial marriage between birds...the kid wouldnt be accepted by either species!! lol!!
2007-08-14 16:44:06 · answer #5 · answered by kmiriminx 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, if humans can differentiate between other apes and monkeys and vice-versa, I'd have to assume that other animals can do the same with other members of their phylum and class.
2007-08-14 14:28:59 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
They do sometimes get it badly wrong. I heard of an eagle that opened it's legs for a lark.
2007-08-14 14:23:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Better than us obviously...have you seen March of the Penguins??
2007-08-14 14:33:18 · answer #8 · answered by Pollys Mum 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The same way humans do.
2007-08-14 14:22:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Birds are asking the same question about us !!!!!
2007-08-14 14:26:01 · answer #10 · answered by Tamart 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋