How do Black-tailed Gulls respond to long-call displays of other individuals?

Abstract

Displays of animals do not always elicit equivalent responses from other conspecifics. Considerable variation exists among the responses, but the mechanism causing the variety remains unclear. We investigated how Black-tailed Gulls Larus crassirostris respond to long-call displays of other individuals. Results show that the response varies depending on the context. Territorial birds often respond to the long-calls of non-territorial birds by attacking. However, non-territorial birds typically respond to the long-calls of territorial birds by avoiding them. Nevertheless, they usually respond to the long-calls of their partners by using the same long-call. These results are explained well by the motivational conflict hypothesis.