The Eloquent Communicators


David Attenborough reveals how birds have become expert communicators and use extraordinary patterns of colour and beautiful songs to deter predators, intimidate rivals and even impress potential mates. In Patagonia, he enters into a morse code conversation with one of the worlds largest woodpeckers. While the lyrebird of southern Australia has its own comprehensive selection of musical notes, but it also steals sounds from its environment and incorporates them into its own repertoire.

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25 Responses to The Eloquent Communicators

  1. gusthemynahbird says:

    @Makyui awesome, thank you!

  2. Makyui says:

    @gusthemynahbird Curassow and Wattled Guan.

  3. gusthemynahbird says:

    I know Attenborough says the names of all the birds, but I can’t figure out the spelling for some of them in order to look them up. Does anyone know how to spell the names of the two birds between the toucan and the kagu (starting around 25:30)? Thanks!

  4. gusthemynahbird says:

    I know Attenborough says the names of all the birds, but I can’t figure out the spelling for some of them in order to look them up. Does anyone know how to spell the names of the two birds between the toucan and the kagu (starting around 25:30)? Thanks!

  5. Guiltyx23 says:

    Mine was responding to this entire video. and always chirps along with my classical. Silly birdies ^^

  6. mybrainbrokeow says:

    that bird at the end was amazing, mimicking everything like a parrot! And I also loved the tidbit about the sections of budgies’ bodies glowing in ultraviolet light that they can see. It’s a fascinating thing to learn about budgies, since I have two of the little sweethearts!

  7. miresly7777777 says:

    Yeah same here…..`”NewHopeNash…

  8. NewHopeNashFan says:

    I did not know until tonight that there was such a thing as a sparrow army. These programs are fantastic.

  9. NewHopeNashFan says:

    Did you know that budgerigars respond to the dawn chorus segment? At least my Peridot does.

  10. theroyalpriest says:

    I was thinking the same thing! lol

  11. METALSTYGIAN says:

    i guess hummingbirds are real
    i personally have never seen one
    i wish i could
    lovely creatures

  12. METALSTYGIAN says:

    the vibration from their songs stimulates the leaves on the tree to grow as well as this man’s definition
    i love this episode

  13. DAJ01 says:

    14:40 Sir Attenborough presents a different sort of bird to the camera.

  14. sheupe says:

    this episode is actually called “Signals and Songs”

  15. muckraker87 says:

    It’s amazing the kind of sound that the woodpeckers can generate when knocking on wood

  16. boronoro says:

    Trevor Gosling, the sound recordist is the best EVER! Super show! Thank You! I’m just flabbergasted! What an astonishing display of information! Camera, narration, sound, all are top notch! BBC, you rock!

  17. asuarez9 says:

    the woodpecker couple was so cute..

  18. fogdragon23 says:

    With the talk of infer-red colors, I wonder how the birds can tell that their own colors are “superior” to the next ones. Especially with the sparrows and their “rankings”. I love these vids. XD

  19. machngunjoe says:

    “a great tit!” at 4:15

    Who named these birds seriously?!?

  20. machngunjoe says:

    lol that was funny

  21. lotsojoy says:

    I really loved the lyre bird’s chainsaw imitation.

  22. LordOmberus says:

    I’m sorry, but seeing all those little white birds gang up and shit all over the black raven just made me feel guilty.

  23. RainNight says:

    sir attenborough is the best

  24. 7T9U8R says:

    this is hilarious! I can’t imagine birds can join together to shit all over the raven! I own a military macaw that would purposely shit on my husband. Aren’t birds amazing.

  25. InvisibleWitness says:

    aimed shit attacks? some avians are pretty foul…

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