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Is the Tonal Quality of Birdsong Learned? Evidence from Song Sparrows

Publication ,  Journal Article
Nowicki, S; Marler, P; Maynard, A; Peters, S
Published in: Ethology
January 1, 1992

Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) songs are composed largely of pure‐tonal sounds. This paper investigates the role that learning plays in the development of the tonal structure of song sparrow songs, as well as the role that tonal quality plays in determining the suitability of songs as models for learning. 20 birds were trained with both normal pure‐tonal songs and modified songs that included harmonic overtones. The harmonic‐modified songs were obtained from birds singing in a helium atmosphere, the result of which is to perturb vocal tract resonances and thus alter a song's tonal quality. Subjects learned equally well from normal and harmonic models. Birds that learned material from harmonic models reproduced some of this material with harmonic overtones, but the majority of notes learned from harmonic models were subsequently reproduced as pure‐tonal copies. Thus, the tonal structure of songs does not influence young song sparrows in their selection of song models, but there is a strong tendency to reproduce songs in a pure‐tonal fashion, even if learned from harmonic models. 1992 Blackwell Verlag GmbH

Duke Scholars

Published In

Ethology

DOI

EISSN

1439-0310

ISSN

0179-1613

Publication Date

January 1, 1992

Volume

90

Issue

3

Start / End Page

225 / 235

Related Subject Headings

  • Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 0608 Zoology
  • 0603 Evolutionary Biology
 

Citation

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Nowicki, S., Marler, P., Maynard, A., & Peters, S. (1992). Is the Tonal Quality of Birdsong Learned? Evidence from Song Sparrows. Ethology, 90(3), 225–235. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.1992.tb00834.x
Nowicki, S., P. Marler, A. Maynard, and S. Peters. “Is the Tonal Quality of Birdsong Learned? Evidence from Song Sparrows.” Ethology 90, no. 3 (January 1, 1992): 225–35. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.1992.tb00834.x.
Nowicki S, Marler P, Maynard A, Peters S. Is the Tonal Quality of Birdsong Learned? Evidence from Song Sparrows. Ethology. 1992 Jan 1;90(3):225–35.
Nowicki, S., et al. “Is the Tonal Quality of Birdsong Learned? Evidence from Song Sparrows.” Ethology, vol. 90, no. 3, Jan. 1992, pp. 225–35. Scopus, doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.1992.tb00834.x.
Nowicki S, Marler P, Maynard A, Peters S. Is the Tonal Quality of Birdsong Learned? Evidence from Song Sparrows. Ethology. 1992 Jan 1;90(3):225–235.
Journal cover image

Published In

Ethology

DOI

EISSN

1439-0310

ISSN

0179-1613

Publication Date

January 1, 1992

Volume

90

Issue

3

Start / End Page

225 / 235

Related Subject Headings

  • Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 0608 Zoology
  • 0603 Evolutionary Biology