A little bird told her: scientist wins $100,000 prize for decoding birdsong
Elie observed and recorded the sounds the zebra finches made and classified the calls according to the situation and the bird that made them. Photograph: Wolfgang ForstmeierView image in fullscreenElie observed and recorded the sounds the zebra finches made and classified the calls according to the situation and the bird that made them. She also found that at times, the birds confused calls with similar meanings more than those that sounded the same.“I’m really super-honoured,” Elie said on winning the prize, adding that she hoped the work was a step forwards in the “great endeavour” to communicate with animals.
- ▪Elie observed and recorded the sounds the zebra finches made and classified the calls according to the situation and the bird that made them.
- ▪Photograph: Wolfgang ForstmeierView image in fullscreenElie observed and recorded the sounds the zebra finches made and classified the calls according to the situation and the bird that made them.
- ▪She also found that at times, the birds confused calls with similar meanings more than those that sounded the same.“I’m really super-honoured,” Elie said on winning the prize, adding that she hoped the work was a step forwards in the “great
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Elie observed and recorded the sounds the zebra finches made and classified the calls according to the situation and the bird that made them. Photograph: Wolfgang ForstmeierView image in fullscreenElie observed and recorded the sounds the zebra finches made and classified the calls according to the situation and the bird that made them. Photograph: Wolfgang ForstmeierAnimal behaviourA little bird told her: scientist wins $100,000 prize for decoding birdsongJulie Elie worked out how zebra finches announce who they are, what they are doing and use individual signaturesIan Sample Science editorFri 26 Jun 2026 02.53 EDTFirst published on Fri 26 Jun 2026 02.51 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleA scientist who decoded the dictionary that a bird uses to communicate has won a $100,000 prize…
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