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This chapter reviews the social aspects of song learning in four species of American sparrows (family Emberizidae). Recent research shows that juvenile American sparrows tend to learn most of their songs from territorial neighbors. Such song sharing between neighbors eases communication, which is essential for breeding success and territorial possession. Studies show that neighbors that share more songs with each other are able to possess their territory for a longer period of time; territory possession, in turn, is critical for breeding success. Recent studies also argue that many species can learn songs well past the previously accepted sensitive period, allowing birds to actually learn from their neighbors once they are old enough to settle in a territory. Furthermore, juvenile songbirds learn songs both by directly interacting with tutors and by eavesdropping on tutors, with the latter playing a more prominent role. Eavesdropping allows juvenile songbirds to pay attention to both sides of a countersinging interaction and to pick out dominance relationships. Here we focus on the importance of social interactions on birdsong learning. Studying the social factors of learning will help us to understand the adaptive function of song learning in songbirds.

Author: Lu Yang

Introduction

The ability to communicate is an adaptive trait that has evolved many times. Songs, in particular, are very complex signals found in insects, frogs, and birds and are most predominantly used by males to attract mates and/or compete with other males (Searcy&Anderson 1986). Among the animal taxa that use songs as a means of communication, songbirds (suborder Passerini) are unique in that their songs are not entirely genetically based (unlike a cricket chirp or a frog croak). Instead, songbirds learn songs through social interactions. We know this because juveniles raised in acoustic isolation develop abnormal songs (Marler 1970b). In this way and many others, songbirds’ songs are similar to human speech (see Box 4; Doupe&Kuhl 1999). Furthermore, song learning in birds is a great model for studying social learning in other animals, especially humans (see Box 4; Brainard&Doupe 2002).

Four species of American sparrows
Four species of American sparrows. A) song sparrow (Melospiza melodia), B) savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis), C) grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), D) white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys).
Image A :<http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Melospiza-melodia-001.jpg>.
Image B: mikebaird<http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/39066219/>.
Image C: jerryoldenettel<http://www.flickr.com/photos/jroldenettel/2543533860/>.
Image D:<http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:White-crowned-sparrow.jpg>.

Biologists have been trying to decipher the meaning behind bird songs since the 18th century (Baker 2001). Like many areas of biology, studies of bird songs have been greatly influenced by Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection, which spurred biologists to investigate deeper into the adaptive value of songs as form of communication. Only recently has serious progress been made in understanding song learning in songbirds, incited by Marler’s claim that song learning in birds has many parallels with speech learning in humans (Marler 1970a). Since then, numerous studies have been done on songbirds, although song learning, especially the social learning of songs, is still a relatively poorly understood topic.

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Source:  OpenStax, Mockingbird tales: readings in animal behavior. OpenStax CNX. Jan 12, 2011 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col11211/1.5
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