"African Honeyguide Birds Master Human Calls for Partnership"

A new study published in the journal Science reveals that the Greater Honeyguide, a wild African bird, has the ability to learn and respond to the distinct whistles and calls made by human honey foragers in different regions. The birds are more likely to appear and lead humans to honey when they hear the recordings of the calls made by their usual human partners. This unique cooperative relationship between humans and wild animals benefits both parties and may have existed for thousands of years. The study suggests that the birds learn these culturally-specific cues from their elders, similar to how human honey foragers learn from their communities.