Structure, function, and mimicry in begging calls of passerines and cuckoos

Abstract

Begging calls give information to parent on location & hunger level of chicks. Also stimulate parent to feed chicks. Review literature on hypotheses attempting to explain structure & function of begging calls. Young birds give a wide variety of calls & no evidence of structure being imposed by habitat. Importance of predation in selecting call structure may have been over emphasised. Suggest that the structure of begging calls is determined by needs during the fledgling period.