Zebra finches’ ingenious ‘vocal panting’ cools them down and signals hot weather to embryos

As this latest heatwave breaks records across Australia, we’re being forced to adjust to new levels of heat.

What if you could increase your tolerance to heat just by repeating the phrase ‘I feel hot’?

That is what zebra finches do, according to an ongoing study from ecology researchers at Deakin University.

The zebra finch is an Australian bird with a distinctive red bill commonly found in hot dry areas around Australia, including northern Victoria.

“They are in groups usually, and they are really…