Have you ever looked up to see a squirrel chattering away on a tree branch? It's probably communicating a lot more than you think. (From 2014)
Broadband sounds like kuks and quaas are easy to localize. These sounds, and conspicuous visual displays like tail flags, advertise the signaler's location. If an ambush predator like a cat knows its potential prey has spotted it, it might give up and look elsewhere for prey it can take by surprise.
Alerting the predator that the squirrel sees it may be the main function, but that doesn't preclude other squirrels from hearing or seeing the signal and also responding. McRae says he is coming to the conclusion that these alarm calls are used both by other squirrels and to let predators know they've been seen.McRae has shown that squirrels respond to other squirrels' alarm calls by becoming more vigilant and retreating up trees.
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