House finches learn canary trills. Issue 2 (4th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mann, Dan C.; Lahti, David C.; Waddick, Laura; Mundinger, Paul C.
• Is Part Of: Bioacoustics. Volume 30:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 215
• Page End: 231
• Publication Date: 2021-03-04
• Subjects: Bird song -- vocal learning -- vocal mimicry -- cross-fostering -- Haemorhous -- house finch; Bioacoustics -- Periodicals; Sound production by animals -- Periodicals; Animal sounds -- Periodicals; Sound recordings -- Periodicals; 591.59405
• DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2020.1718551
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0952-4622

Abstract

ABSTRACT: We analyse data from a cross-fostering experiment in which house finches were fostered by canary parents. Some individuals received canary song input, while others received no input, after a period of masking noise. We compare audio recordings of songs by these individuals to each other and to species-typical house finch and canary songs. Canary-tutored house finches learn to trill as part of their song. Since trills are not present in typical house finch song, naturally occurring song patterns underestimate what a species is capable of learning and producing. These results highlight a potential avenue for the origin of novel syntax in songbirds.