Australian Magpies discriminate between the territorial calls of intra- and extra-group conspecifics

The ability to discriminate between individuals or classes of individuals based on distinctive cues is considered a vital skill in cooperative and territorial species. Here, we used playback experiments to determine whether Western Australian Magpies Gymnorhina tibicen dorsalis discriminate between the territorial carolling calls of intra-group and extra-group conspecifics. Magpies responded more strongly to the playback of carolling calls from extra-group individuals than to the playback of carolling calls from intra-group individuals, spending more time vigilant and carolling in response to extra-group carols. Our results suggest Western Australian Magpies are able to distinguish between individuals within and outside of their social group using only vocal signals and expands on growing research reporting vocal discrimination and individual recognition abilities across species.

Automated summary

This study found that Western Australian Magpies are able to distinguish between individuals within and outside of their social group based on territorial carolling calls, using only vocal signals.