Cuckoo Song

[Fern57]

If we learn our language from our parents, and animals and birds learn their language from their parents, how does the cuckoo know how to 'cuckoo'?

[undercovers]

for the same reason that a cat reared by a dog does not start barking, or a monkey raised by humans doesn't start saying "hello" - the animals are built differently so make different sounds, its a matter of anatomy rather than learning

[netibiza]

One of my cats actually said "mama" and was heard by several different people.  When she said it she wan't food.

[kev100]

Birds don't learn to sing from their parents Fern, It's Instinct.

A wrens nest is always built the same way and of the same material, a domed shaped structure with the entrance hole in the side of the nest.

How does it know? No bird is shown how to build a nest by it's parents and yet all species always build their nests just like their ancestors have done for millennia. It's instinct.

[Fern57]

But hand reared parrots (and other birds) talk because they initate us. And did anyone read the story about the baby elephant who copies the sound of trucks?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4377297.stm

listen to the audio - interesting.

My question was, where does the cuckoo learn to 'cuckoo'?

[Fern57]

sp -initate =imitate

[Trillipse]

"Linguaphone" postal language courses on tape. (Naturally delivered by carrier pigeon...)

[Fern57]

All very good answers. Particularly like Trillipse's. I have a good mind to ask how the female cuckoo can lay different coloured eggs identical to the ones in the 'host nest', but I won't. lol