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Fallow bucks - male fallow deer - listen to the sound quality of rival males' calls to evaluate the exhaustion of the caller so that they can decide between fighting and keeping distance, according to a new study. 

"Fallow bucks are among the most impressive vocal athletes of all deer and invest a large amount of time and energy in calling," said Dr Benjamin Pitcher from Queen Mary's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences in the press release.

Prior studies have shown that bucks are able to call for a mate more than 3000 times per hour during the rut (peak of the mating season).

According to the study, during the mating season fallow buck produce a call to attract mates and at the same times to repel the competing males. 

"Until recently we have known relatively little about who is listening to their calling, and what information they are hearing," said Dr Alan McElligott, also from Queen Mary's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, in the press release. 

During their experiments, scientists played slow and fast rate groaning sounds including groans made by them in the early rut and in the late rut. Scientists hid the speakers and measure how long it took for the deer to react to such calls. 

"These results help us to understand how vocalisations and behaviours associated with mating have evolved," added Dr McElligott in the press release.

"The findings demonstrate how sexual selection has shaped the vocal behaviour and communication system of fallow deer. We see this trend with other mammals that have similar vocal systems, such as sea lions. The study helps to develop an understanding of how competing for, and attracting mates, has influenced the evolution of communication systems, including human speech."

The findings of the new study is published in the journal Behavioral Ecology.