The Bird Way: A New Look at How Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, and Think

by Jennifer Ackerman

In this way, birds and humans communicate. “The honey-hunters use these special calls to signal honeyguides they’re eager to follow, and honeyguides use this information to choose partners who are likely to be good collaborators,” says Spottiswoode. It can work the other way, as well, with a bird initially summoning human partners with its special loud chattering come-hither call. The bird literally points the way to hidden bee nests; from its calls and its flight and perching pattern, the honey-hunters construe the direction and distance to the nest. After the hunters harvest the honey (subduing the bees with smoke), they leave the energy-rich honeycomb wax for the birds to feast on.