Much is known about how humans use their eyes to convey sentiments, but very little is known about how birds use this mode of communication. New research suggests JACKDAWS — a bird in the crow family found in Europe, western Asia and North Africa — use their peepers to deter competitors from approaching their nests.
This
is the first time scientists have shown that animals besides primates use their
eyes to communicate.
Jackdaws
are perching birds, or passerines. About 10 percent of passerines have colored
irises, the circular structures in the eyes that control how much light gets
in.
Unlike
their dark-eyes relatives, rooks and crows, "jackdaw eyes are almost white, and their
striking pale irises are very conspicuous against their dark feathers,"
Gabrielle Davidson, lead author of the study, said in a statement.
"But
do jackdaws use their bright eyes for communication?" asked Davidson, an animal
behavior researcher at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
The answer is "yes" - but you'll have to come back tomorrow to read more about THAT!
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