Bird songs share several acoustic patterns with human speech and music, according to a new international study published in the scientific journal Science.
The findings suggest that birdsong may have more in common with human communication than previously recognised, with similarities identified across hundreds of species and recordings from speakers of dozens of languages.
Researchers analysed vocal recordings from 367 bird species and compared them with samples of human speech and music from 52 languages.
The research team was led by scientists at McGill University in Canada, who investigated common features in the way different species organise and produce sounds.
Similarities between birdsong and human voices
The study identified several shared acoustic characteristics, including small variations in vocal pitch, regular syllable timing and the lengthening of sounds at the end of a phrase.
These patterns were found in human speech and music, as well as in the songs of different bird species.
Notably, the similarities appeared in both birds that learn their songs and species that produce vocalisations without prior learning.
Biological mechanisms may explain the similarities
Researchers suggest that the shared patterns may be linked to common biological mechanisms involved in sound production and breathing control.
Factors such as body size, physiology and the anatomy of vocal organs may also influence how different species produce and organise sounds.
However, the findings do not mean that birds communicate through human language or that their songs have the same semantic structure as human speech.
Instead, they show that different species can develop similar acoustic patterns despite relying on distinct biological and evolutionary mechanisms.
Comparing human and bird vocalisations could therefore provide valuable insights into the evolution of communication and the biological foundations of human speech and music.
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