New research finds that humpback singers alter song pitch when another whale joins. Eduardo Mercado III, professor emeritus of psychology at the University at Buffalo and a coauthor of the paper, said the results suggest humpbacks listen to other singers and change pitch in reaction. The study shows these vocal interactions are more sophisticated and dynamic than previously seen in many other mammals, including dolphins.
Reacting to a co‑singer and altering pitch requires both mental and vocal flexibility. Researchers note that bats have some ability to adjust pitch in response to others, but, until now, only humans performing together and humpbacks were known among mammals to fine‑tune voices while singing together.
The study was led by Julia Hyland Bruno, assistant professor of biological sciences at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and the results appear in the journal Animal Behaviour. Why whales adjust their songs when they hear other singers remains unknown; the paper establishes the capacity and is a starting point for future research.
Difficult words
- alter — Make different or change slightly
- pitch — High or low sound frequency of a voice
- coauthor — Person who helps write a paper
- vocal — Relating to sounds made by voices
- flexibility — Ability to change or adapt easily
- capacity — Ability or power to do something
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think whales might change their song pitch when they hear other singers? Give one possible reason.
- Have you ever changed your voice when speaking with someone? Describe a short example.
- What experiments or observations could researchers do to learn why whales change their songs?
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