Responses of ring-necked pheasant chicks (Phasianus colchicus) to conspecific calls

Abstract The locomotor responses of pheasant chicks to conspecific calls and the vocalizations of the chicks relating to their locomotor responses were measured in a test apparatus permitting approach or retreat movements. The brood-gathering call and the content call elicited strong approach from chicks. The alarm call and the squeak call inhibited locomotion in chicks. The hiss call, brood-caution call, fright call and flock call do not greatly affect the locomotion of subjects. The flock call appears to be primarily a care-soliciting call. Conspecific calls appear to be important to the survival of young pheasant chicks in the wild.