Dee for Danger: Chickadees add notes as threat grows

Biologists report new progress in translating the sophisticated communication system of black-capped chickadees.

NO CHICKEN LITTLE. This black-capped chickadee grades its “chickadee” alarm calls to match the menace of a lurking predator. Science

When the little birds spot a lurking predator, they burst out with variations on their “chickadee” calls. Tests with 15 predator species show that birds vary those calls depending on how dangerous the predator is, says Christopher N.