Do birds have inter-specific alarm calls/language

["Ralph Reid" <>]

Hi all,

Several years ago I was on a property west of Wagga Wagga and my attention 
was drawn to two magpies screaming in a small eucalypt.  A closer view 
revealed a lace monitor about 3 metres up the tree (I don't know if the 
magpies had a nest there, the foliage was sparse but I could not see one).
What suprised me, though, was that the magpie's alarm calls quickly drew 5 
birds of 3 different species (white-browed babbler, magpie lark, crested 
pigeon) who all joined in hurling abuse at the monitor.
Were the magpie's alarm calls an example of a 'common threat warning' shared 
by the different species?
Regards

Ralph Reid 

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