The olfactory sense was long-time underestimated in avian intra- and interspecific communication. First studies demonstrating that birds use their olfactory sense in communication processes were published in the sixties by Bang and colleagues (Bang 1965, Bang and Cobb 1968). Now, it is known that birds use olfaction in different social- and non-social contexts, amongst others in navigation and orientation, predator avoidance, foraging, reproduction and kin recognition. In Zebra Finches, it has recently been shown that the begging behavior of hatchlings lasts longer when their parents’ scent is provided compared to the scent of unfamiliar adults (Caspers et al. 2017). To unravel the molecular principles of such chemical communication processes in birds, a characterization of the entirety of substances in avian odor sources is essential. In our current work, we established methods for the analysis of the volatile fraction of preen oil and feathers of Zebra Finches. Solvent extraction, solvent-assisted flavor evaporation, as well as gas chromatography-mass-spectrometry and one- and two-dimensional gas chromatography-olfactometry/mass spectrometry were applied. Using this methodology enabled us to identify so far 59 volatile compounds, with some of them not having been identified in avian samples before. We want to encourage further researchers to apply these and complementary methods on other bird species or even other animals to gain knowledge about the role of the volatilome in communication processes.
Funding: DFG (LO 2545/5-1 and CA 889/9-1)