Definition of Contact call
Contact calls are short, seemingly haphazard vocalizations made by many social animals, such as a chicken's cluck. Contact calls differ from other vocalizations, such as alarm calls, in that they are generally subtle, inconspicuous signals rather than loud, widely broadcast calls. Instead, they are brief vocalizations that often vary between individuals. In many cases, the message conveyed by a contact call is specific to the individual's or group's current activity, such as informing other members of the group of one's location while foraging for food.
Some social animal species also communicate the presence of potential danger by ceasing their contact calls, rather than producing alarm calls. Charles Darwin described this behavior in relation to wild horses and cattle.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Contact call?
Contact calls are short, seemingly haphazard vocalizations made by many social animals, such as a chicken's cluck. Contact calls differ from other vocalizations, such as alarm calls, in that they are generally subtle, inconspicuous signals rather than loud…