**Author(s):** Tyndel, S; Carlos, J; Aplin, LM; McElreath, MB Language is a hallmark of human evolution, and probably one of the main catalysts for cumulative cultural evolution in our species. While it is hard to study early language evolution directly, animal models can be useful to understand evolutionary drivers of communication. Parrots are similar to primates in social and cognitive complexity, but unlike primates, are known for their life-long flexible vocal learning across multiple contexts. Parrots use social contact calls that enabling other individuals to stay in touch even in dense vegetation. Multiple studies have found group or location specific dialects in contact calls, suggesting social learning. It has also been suggested that these calls are individually distinct and enable individual recognition. However, it is unclear whether, and how, social calls can be used for both functions within the same species. Here, we studied variation in monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) calls at three levels using multilevel Bayesian models: individual, colony and population. We show that they have distinct dialects across cities, evidencing social learning. We further show that individuals have a distinctively recognisable ‘voice print’ across call types. This is the first evidence of such a voice print in a vocal learner outside of humans, and demonstrates how both dialects and individual recognition is possible in a flexible vocal learner.

Monk parakeets exhibit individual vocal signatures and population-level dialects in their vocalisations

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Cultural evolution in non-human taxa 1

technical paper

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Cultural Evolution Society 2022

The field of cultural evolution is growing in size and scope; its theories, methods and applications - both academic and applied - are getting ever more robust. Do join us in what promises to be an exciting exchange of ideas and a celebration of our field.

Simeon Q. Smeele

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Monk parakeets exhibit individual vocal signatures and population-level dialects in their vocalisations

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