Animals send messages — Biology, 4–6 years
Animals use sounds, movements and smells to tell others what is happening. These messages can help them stay together, find a mate or warn of danger.
A message is more than a sound
Animals can send messages with a bark, a wing movement, a posture or a smell. A cat with its tail held high may be saying that it feels calm, while a bird’s call may help its group stay together. The message is useful because another animal can respond.
Why do animals signal?
An animal cannot explain, “Come here” or “Go away” with human words. Signals solve this problem when animals are far apart, hidden or unable to speak like us. A warning call can make nearby animals look up or run, while a softer call can help a parent and baby find each other.
A robin’s warning
1. A robin sees a cat near the hedge. 2. It gives a sharp warning call. 3. Other robins hear it and become still or fly away. 4. The cat loses the chance to sneak close. The call did not remove the cat; it gave other birds time to react.
The trap: every sound has one meaning
It is reasonable to think that one animal sound always means exactly one thing, as our words often do. But animals can change a call depending on the situation, and the same sound may be heard differently by different animals. We should watch what happens next instead of guessing from sound alone.
Messages in the world around us
You can notice animal messages in a garden, park or home: a dog’s bark, a cat’s body position or birds calling to one another. Watching quietly helps you see the signal and the response. Do not copy a warning or move close to a wild animal; give it space.
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