Chapter 51, Problem 4TYU

Summary Introduction

Introduction: Song learning is a gradual process in some bird species. It takes place in stages. The newly hatched bird memorizes the song during sensitive period by listening to their parents. On becoming juvenile, they sing a subsong, a tentative note. They listen to this subsong and compare it with the song memorized in the sensitive period. After the two matches, the song is crystallized (finalized) for the entire life.

In Canary (a seed eating songbird), there are multiples sensitive periods for song learning. They incorporate new song also known as “syllables” in their song repertoire every year. In addition to this, their song also becomes flexible between breeding seasons.