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Thursday, November 12, 2009
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Songbird "Sings" With Feathers

Is that sound a violin? Nope! You are hearing the vibrating feathers of the male club-winged manakin. This tiny songbird lives in the cloud forests of the Andes in South America. It vibrates one type of wing feather against another at twice the speed of a hummingbird's wings to "sing" to potential mates. The sound this vibration makes sounds like a violin.



Learn more about the club-winged manakin on National Geographic News.

Make a bird feeder to feed hungry birds in your area this winter.

10 Comments

Well, I am a person that does not appreciate violin music very much....That is an odd bird! I wonder how long it took for that bird`s music to sound great to females. Any instrument does not sound good when it is first played by an amateur!

Yea, I don't really care for violin music, but that bird really does sound like one!!

Thats cool singing with wings!

so cool if i see one in my back yard i would keep it as a pet! wouldnt u.

using its wings to sing. that is just way to cool! i wish i had wings that could do that! I would talk forever and ever and be amazing at it. then i could be in the orchestra.


✰ Jolly ✰

The songbird sings greatly! I don't know how that singing would crack a window!

WOW! that is soooo cool! i wish i could do that! only if i were a bird!

Does this bird do lyabies too! lol! I am so sorry but it is not as amazing as twilight but i guess it is cool.

that's coral but i want to hear the bird not people talking

Cool bird! I am one for ANY violinist, and this sounds AWESOME! Awesome crest, little birdy!

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