The sexy sounds emitted by male doves can mesmerize female doves, and this effect is even stronger when the females observe the males displaying their charms.
Since male doves often preen and coo simultaneously, the findings suggest that the males’ display may be superfluous as it serves a similar function to sound, helping the males attract their mates.
Humans typically combine signals during communication, such as raising an eyebrow while asking, “Do you want to dance?” An eyebrow raise can be overlooked or misunderstood, but when combined with facial expressions and words, it conveys the intended message.
In the case of male doves, their sounds alone are sufficient to stimulate female doves.
“Sound signals are very important for birds: when females hear the male but cannot see him, they respond with inviting behaviors such as circling and tail fanning, but the most crucial part is that they coo“, said researcher Sarah Partan from the University of South Florida.
Partan noted that cooing is significant because it stimulates ovulation in female birds. Humans typically do not respond to similar sounds, but scents can also influence women’s menstrual cycles.
Partan and her colleagues studied six female Carneaux doves to observe how they reacted to recorded sounds and images of a male trying to “court” a female in the adjacent cage.
To woo the females, the male bowed his head, leaned forward, fluffed his chest feathers, and cooed. When the females were shown this display without sound, some paused to watch the male, while others seemed indifferent.
However, when they only heard the male’s cooing, most of the females paid attention, responding by fanning their tails. The strongest reactions occurred when the females both saw and heard the male, indicating that the male’s display, while seemingly excessive, played a crucial role.
“Animals use these redundant signals to enhance their effectiveness and ensure the message is conveyed in a noisy environment“, Partan stated.
M.T. (according to Discovery)
