How the social lives of magpies shape their call repertoire

Communication is central to the survival of most animals, including humans. Yet animals of different species communicate differently, and the complexity of their communication skills varies greatly. One characteristic of advanced communication systems is the ability to combine different sounds (i.e., vocal elements) to create structured sound sequences that convey more information. This ability, known as syntax or combinatoriality, was originally thought to be unique to humans, yet a growing body of research showed that it is also present in other species, including the Western Australian magpie.