High-frequency hearing in a hummingbird

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: F.G. Duque, Georgia State University; C.A. Rodriguez-Saltos, Emory University; S. Uma, Georgia State University; I. Nasir, Georgia State University; M.F. Monteros, Universidad Técnica del Norte; W. Wilczynski, Georgia State University; L.L. Carruth, Georgia State University
• Language: English
• Date: 2020
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2020 The Authors, some rights reserved
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abb9393
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Science Advances
• Volume: 6
• Issue: 29
• Grant/Funding Information: This research was supported by Research Exchange Awards to F.G.D. from NSF Sociogenomics Research Coordination Network grant IOS 1256839, the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience (CBN) at Georgia State University (GSU), and the Konishi Neuroethology Research Award to F.G.D. by the International Society for Neuroethology (ISN).
• Keywords: hummingbirds; high-frequency vocalizations; hearing; behavioral; neural
• Research Categories: Biology, Neuroscience; Biology, Animal Physiology

Abstract

Some hummingbirds produce unique high-frequency vocalizations. It remains unknown whether these hummingbirds can hear these sounds, which are produced at frequencies beyond the range at which most birds can hear. Here, we show behavioral and neural evidence of high-frequency hearing in a hummingbird, the Ecuadorian Hillstar (Oreotrochilus chimborazo). In the field, hummingbirds responded to playback of high-frequency song with changes in body posture and approaching behavior. We assessed neural activation by inducing ZENK expression in the brain auditory areas in response to the high-frequency song. We found higher ZENK expression in the auditory regions of hummingbirds exposed to the high-frequency song compared to controls, while no difference was observed in the hippocampus between groups. The behavioral and neural responses show that this hummingbird can hear sounds at high frequencies. This is the first evidence of the use of high-frequency vocalizations and high-frequency hearing in conspecific communication in a bird.