Stephen Nowicki | Scholars@Duke

Stephen Nowicki
Professor of Biology

Our lab studies animal communication and sexual selection from an integrative perspective that includes a wide range of behavioral ecological, neuroethological, developmental, genetic, and evolutionary approaches. Birds are our most common model system, but we also have worked with insects, spiders, shrimp, lobsters, lizards, and primates, including humans. The central question that drives our work is how information, in the broadest sense of that word, is used by organisms to maximize survival and reproductive success.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Professor of Biology, Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2002
Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Psychology and Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2008
Professor of Neurobiology, Neurobiology, Basic Science Departments 2010
Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, University Institutes and Centers 2011
Bass Fellow, Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2004

Contact Information

116 Allen Building, Durham, NC 27708
Duke Box 90024, Durham, NC 27708-0024
snowicki@duke.edu (919) 668-3420
http://www.biology.duke.edu/nowicki/

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., Cornell University 1984
- M.S., Tufts University 1978
- B.S., Tufts University 1976
Duke Appointment History
- Dean of Undergraduate Education and Vice Provost, Duke University 2007 - 2018
- Associate Professor of Neurobiology, Neurobiology, Basic Science Departments 1994 - 2010
- Dean of the Natural Sciences, Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2004 - 2007
- Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, University Institutes and Centers 2002 - 2006
- Associate Professor of Biology, Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2000 - 2002
- Associate Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, University Institutes and Centers 2001 - 2002
- Associate Professor of Psychology: Experimental, Psychology and Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1994 - 2001
- Associate Professor with Tenure, Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1994 - 2000
- Assistant Professor, Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1989 - 1994
- Assistant Professor, Neurobiology, Basic Science Departments 1989 - 1994
- Assistant Professor, Psychology and Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1992 - 1994
- Assistant Research Professor, Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1989
Leadership & Clinical Positions at Duke
- Dean of Natural Sciences, Trinity College, 2004-2007
  Dean and Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, 2007-present
Recognition
In the News
- AUG 1, 2018
  
  Birds Categorize Colors Just Like Humans Do
- JUN 20, 2018
  
  Birds Have Time-Honored Traditions Too
- JUN 12, 2018
  
  Anne Yoder Stepping Down at Duke Lemur Center
- JAN 10, 2018
  
  Nowicki to Step Down as Dean for Undergraduate Education In June
- JAN 10, 2018
  
  Steve Nowicki Looks Back at a Decade of Change
- AUG 23, 2017
  
  Dean Nowicki to the Class of 2021: You Belong Here
- AUG 12, 2016
  
  News Tip: A Politician’s Voice Pitch Influences Voters, Experts Say
- MAY 13, 2016
  
  For Blair Holliday, One More Duke Milestone
- APR 29, 2016 Scientific American
  
  Sounds Like a Winner
- APR 27, 2016 Scientific American
  
  Stephen Nowicki, co-author: Sounds like a winner!
- APR 7, 2016
  
  Duke Talent Identification Program Announces New Director
- NOV 6, 2015 Inside Higher Ed
  
  Duke creates program for first-generation students
- NOV 4, 2015
  
  Program to Broaden Access, Assist College Transition
- OCT 2, 2015
  
  Duke Board Updated on Academic, Financial Issues at Fall Meeting
- AUG 10, 2015 International Business Times
  
  Politicians with deep voices rouse 'caveman instincts' in voters
- AUG 7, 2015
  
  ‘Caveman Instincts’ May Favor Baritone Politicians
- JAN 29, 2015 Duke Research Blog
  
  Nowicki's Musical Curiosity and Mentors Led Him to a Love of Science
- JAN 5, 2015
  
  Humans, Sparrows Make Sense of Sounds in Similar Ways
- AUG 20, 2014
  
  Nowicki to Class of 2018: Why Are You Here?
- APR 9, 2014
  
  Guggenheim Curator to Speak at Duke April 16-17
- MAR 26, 2014
  
  Crown Family Gives $10 Million to Support Duke's Social, Intellectual Engagement
Awards & Honors
Expertise
Subject Headings
Global Scholarship
- Research
Research
Selected Grants
- Washington Duke Scholars Program awarded by Coca-Cola Foundation, Inc. 2016 - 2021
- The COMPASS PROJECT awarded by Howard Hughes Medical Institute 2014 - 2019
- Neural Codes for Vocal Sequences awarded by National Science Foundation 2014 - 2019
- 2017 - 2018 MMUF awarded by Andrew W. Mellon Foundation 2017 - 2018
- AB Duke Scholars awarded by Angier Biddle Duke Memorial 2017 - 2018
- Funding for AB Duke Scholars program awarded by Angier Biddle Duke Memorial 2016 - 2017
- Collaborative Research: Cognition and Signaling in Songbirds awarded by National Science Foundation 2012 - 2016
- DISSERTATION RESEARCH: The Role of Mating System in Sperm Competition and Protein Evolution in /Agelaius/ Blackbirds awarded by National Science Foundation 2011 - 2014
- Impact of early nutrition on neural mechanisms of signal processing awarded by National Institutes of Health 2010 - 2013
- DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Selective pressures shaping aggressive behavoir in females: an experimental approach awarded by National Science Foundation 2007 - 2009
- DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Sources of selection on a complex sexual signal. awarded by National Science Foundation 2005 - 2008
- Supplement: Collaborative Research: Developmental and receiver-dependent costs of avian signals awarded by National Science Foundation 2003 - 2007
- Collaborative Research: Developmental and receiver-dependent costs of avian signals awarded by National Science Foundation 2003 - 2006
- Single Neuron Correlates of Learned Song awarded by National Institutes of Health 2003 - 2006
- DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Implications of production constraints for the function of vocal performance in mate choice awarded by National Science Foundation 2004 - 2006
- DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Fitness cost of nest defense: a trade-off with offspring care? awarded by National Science Foundation 2004 - 2006
- Collaborative Research: Complexity and Information in Avian Signals awarded by National Science Foundation 1999 - 2003
- Dissertation research: Function of multiple signals in avian vocal communication awarded by National Science Foundation 2001 - 2003
- Undergraduate Neurosciences Summer Research Program in Mechanisms of Behavior awarded by National Science Foundation 1999 - 2002
- Doctoral Dissertation: Sound Production in Spiny Lobsters (Palinuridai): Morphological Constraints and the Evolution... awarded by National Science Foundation 1999 - 2001
- (98-0109) Undergraduate Neurosciences Summer Research Program in Mechanisms of Behavior awarded by National Science Foundation 1998 - 1999
- (96-0213) Dissertation Research: Female Reproductive Coloration in Sceloporus Virgatus (Sauria:Iguanidae): A Functional awarded by National Science Foundation 1996 - 1999
- (94-0424) Perception, Function and Development of Complex Vocal Signals awarded by National Science Foundation 1995 - 1997
- (96-0508) Perception, Function and Development of Complex Vocal Signals awarded by National Science Foundation 1995 - 1997
- (97-0661) Perception, Function and Development of Complex Vocal Signals awarded by National Science Foundation 1995 - 1997
- (93-0208) Undergraduate Neurosciences Summer Research Program in Mechanisms of Behavior awarded by National Science Foundation 1993 - 1996
- (91-0862) Comparative Study of Mechanisms of Vocal Production awarded by National Institutes of Health 1989 - 1995
- (93-0943) Comparative Study of Mechanisms of Vocal Production awarded by National Institutes of Health 1989 - 1995
- (94-0991) Comparative Study of Mechanisms of Vocal Production awarded by National Institutes of Health 1989 - 1995
- (89-0469) Comparative Study of Mechanisms of Vocal Production awarded by National Institutes of Health 1989 - 1992
- (90-0438) Comparative Study of Mechanisms of Vocal Production awarded by National Institutes of Health 1989 - 1992
- (91-0429) Comparative Study of Mechanisms of Vocal Production awarded by National Institutes of Health 1989 - 1992
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Conference Papers
  - Anderson, R, Niederhauser, J, Dubois, A, Nowicki, S, and Searcy, W. "Are Song Sparrow 'Soft Songs' Adapted for Short-range Communication?." March 2017. Link to Item
  - Anderson, RC, Sewall, KB, Peters, S, Soha, JA, and Nowicki, S. "Song as a signal of cognitive ability: effects of early developmental stress on problem solving and song learning in the zebra finch." March 2016. Link to Item
  - Sewall, KB, Anderson, RC, Peters, S, Nowicki, S, and Roth, T. "Social complexity as a driver of communication and cognition." April 2015. Link to Item
  - Anderson, RC, and Nowicki, S. "Cognitive performance predicts strength of sexual preference in a songbird." 2014. Link to Item
  - Sewall, KB, Soha, JA, Peters, S, and Nowicki, S. "A possible trade-off between song and a cognitive metric in song sparrows." 2014. Link to Item
  - Sewall, KB, and Nowicki, S. "The relationship between testosterone and aggressive phenotype in male song sparrows (Melospiza melodia)." April 2012. Link to Item
  - Sewall, KB, and Nowicki, S. "The relationship between behavioral syndromes and behavioral plasticity in male song sparrows." March 2011. Link to Item
  - Hoese, WJ, Mooney, R, and Nowicki, S. "Neural encoding of multiple song types in the swamp sparrow HVc." December 2000. Link to Item
  - Nowicki, S, Searcy, WA, Hughes, M, and Podos, J. "Sexual selection limits evolutionary innovation in birdsong." 1999. Link to Item
  - LOHR, B, NOWICKI, S, and WEISMAN, R. "PITCH PRODUCTION AND PERCEPTION IN CAROLINA CHICKADEE SONGS." 1991. Link to Item
  - NOWICKI, S, and PETERS, S. "BIRDSONG - MULTIPLE MOTOR PATTERNS IN THE PRODUCTION OF STEREOTYPIC BEHAVIORS." 1991. Link to Item
  - PODOS, J, and NOWICKI, S. "SONGTYPES IN SONG SPARROWS - APPLICATION OF NUMERICAL TAXONOMY TO THE STUDY OF SONG REPERTOIRE ORGANIZATION." 1991. Link to Item
  - WESTNEAT, M, LONG, JH, HOESE, W, and NOWICKI, S. "KINEMATICS OF BIRDSONG IN SPARROWS - FUNCTIONAL CORRELATES OF BEAK AND HEAD MOTION." 1991. Link to Item
  - NOWICKI, S, PETERS, S, MAYNARD, A, and MARLER, P. "SONG ACQUISITION AND LEARNING FROM PURE TONAL AND HARMONIC MODELS IN A SPARROW." 1990. Link to Item
  - NOWICKI, S. "REASSESSMENT OF PERIPHERAL AND NEURAL SIMILARITIES AND DISSIMILARITIES IN THE PRODUCTION OF BIRDSONG AND HUMAN SPEECH." 1989. Link to Item
- Journal Articles
  - Caves, EM, Green, PA, Zipple, MN, Peters, S, Johnsen, S, and Nowicki, S. "Categorical perception of colour signals in a songbird." Nature 560, no. 7718 (August 2018): 365-367. Full Text
  - Lachlan, RF, Ratmann, O, and Nowicki, S. "Cultural conformity generates extremely stable traditions in bird song." Nature Communications 9, no. 1 (June 20, 2018): 2417-null. Full Text
  - Liu, IA, Soha, JA, and Nowicki, S. "Song type matching and vocal performance in territorial signalling by male swamp sparrows." Animal Behaviour 139 (May 2018): 117-125. Full Text
  - Sewall, KB, Anderson, RC, Soha, JA, Peters, S, and Nowicki, S. "Early life conditions that impact song learning in male zebra finches also impact neural and behavioral responses to song in females." Developmental Neurobiology (April 20, 2018). Full Text
  - DuBois, AL, Nowicki, S, Peters, S, Rivera-Cáceres, KD, and Searcy, WA. "Song is not a reliable signal of general cognitive ability in a songbird." Animal Behaviour 137 (March 2018): 205-213. Full Text
  - Niederhauser, JM, DuBois, AL, Searcy, WA, Nowicki, S, and Anderson, RC. "A test of the eavesdropping avoidance hypothesis as an explanation for the structure of low-amplitude aggressive signals in the song sparrow." Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 72, no. 3 (March 2018). Full Text
  - Anderson, RC, Searcy, WA, Peters, S, Hughes, M, DuBois, AL, and Nowicki, S. "Song learning and cognitive ability are not consistently related in a songbird." Animal Cognition 20, no. 2 (March 2017): 309-320. Full Text
  - Peters, S, and Nowicki, S. "Overproduction and attrition: the fates of songs memorized during song learning in songbirds." Animal Behaviour 124 (February 2017): 255-261. Full Text
  - DuBois, AL, Nowicki, S, and Searcy, WA. "A test for repertoire matching in eastern song sparrows." Journal of Avian Biology 47, no. 2 (March 2016): 146-152. Full Text
  - Klofstad, CA, Nowicki, S, and Anderson, RC. "How Voice Pitch Influences Our Choice of Leaders When candidates speak, their vocal characteristics-as well as their words-influence voters' attitudes toward them." AMERICAN SCIENTIST 104, no. 5 (2016): 282-287. Link to Item
  - Akçay, Ç, Anderson, RC, Nowicki, S, Beecher, MD, and Searcy, WA. "Quiet threats: soft song as an aggressive signal in birds." Animal Behaviour 105 (July 2015): 267-274. Full Text
  - Liu, IA, Johndrow, JE, Abe, J, Lüpold, S, Yasukawa, K, Westneat, DF, and Nowicki, S. "Genetic diversity does not explain variation in extra-pair paternity in multiple populations of a songbird." Journal of evolutionary biology 28, no. 5 (May 12, 2015): 1156-1169. Full Text
  - Lachlan, RF, and Nowicki, S. "Context-dependent categorical perception in a songbird." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 112, no. 6 (February 2015): 1892-1897. Full Text
  - Klofstad, CA, Anderson, RC, and Nowicki, S. "Perceptions of Competence, Strength, and Age Influence Voters to Select Leaders with Lower-Pitched Voices." PloS one 10, no. 8 (January 2015): e0133779-. Full Text
  - Nowicki, S, and Searcy, WA. "The evolution of vocal learning." Current Opinion in Neurobiology 28 (October 2014): 48-53. Full Text
  - Peters, S, Searcy, WA, and Nowicki, S. "Developmental stress, song-learning, and cognition." Integrative and Comparative Biology 54, no. 4 (October 2014): 555-567. (Review) Full Text Open Access Copy
  - Peters, S, Searcy, WA, and Nowicki, S. "Developmental Stress, Song-Learning, and Cognition." INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY 54, no. 4 (October 2014): 555-567. Full Text Link to Item
  - Lachlan, RF, Anderson, RC, Peters, S, Searcy, WA, and Nowicki, S. "Typical versions of learned swamp sparrow song types are more effective signals than are less typical versions." Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society 281, no. 1785 (June 22, 2014): 20140252-. Full Text
  - Lachlan, RF, Anderson, RC, Peters, S, Searcy, WA, and Nowicki, S. "Typical versions of learned swamp sparrow song types are more effective signals than are less typical versions." Proceedings. Biological sciences 281, no. 1785 (June 2014): 20140252-. Full Text
  - Searcy, WA, Sewall, KB, Soha, J, Nowicki, S, and Peters, S. "Song-type sharing in a population of Song Sparrows in the eastern United States." Edited by SS Taylor. Journal of Field Ornithology 85, no. 2 (June 2014): 206-212. Full Text
  - Anderson, RC, Peters, S, and Nowicki, S. "Effects of early auditory experience on the development of local song preference in female swamp sparrows." Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 68, no. 3 (March 1, 2014): 437-447. Full Text
  - Anderson, RC, Peters, S, and Nowicki, S. "Effects of early auditory experience on the development of local song preference in female swamp sparrows." Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (2014): 1-11.
  - Searcy, WA, Akçay, C, Nowicki, S, and Beecher, MD. "Aggressive Signaling in Song Sparrows and Other Songbirds." Advances in the Study of Behavior 46 (January 1, 2014): 89-125. Full Text
  - Anderson, RC, DuBois, AL, Piech, DK, Searcy, WA, and Nowicki, S. "Male response to an aggressive visual signal, the wing wave display, in swamp sparrows." BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY 67, no. 4 (April 2013): 593-600. Full Text Link to Item
  - Searcy, WA, DuBois, AL, Rivera-Cáceres, K, and Nowicki, S. "A test of a hierarchical signalling model in song sparrows." Animal Behaviour (2013). Full Text
  - Searcy, WA, DuBois, AL, Rivera-Cáceres, K, and Nowicki, S. "A test of a hierarchical signalling model in song sparrows." Animal Behaviour 86, no. 2 (2013): 309-315. Full Text
  - Lachlan, RF, and Nowicki, S. "How reliable is song learning accuracy as a signal of male early condition?." Am Nat 180, no. 6 (December 2012): 751-761. Full Text Link to Item
  - Peters, S, Derryberry, EP, and Nowicki, S. "Songbirds learn songs least degraded by environmental transmission." Biol Lett 8, no. 5 (October 23, 2012): 736-739. Full Text Link to Item
  - Prather, J, Peters, S, Mooney, R, and Nowicki, S. "Sensory Constraints on Birdsong Syntax: Neural Responses to Swamp Sparrow Songs with Accelerated Trill Rates." Animal Behaviour 83, no. 6 (June 2012): 1411-1420. Full Text
  - Anderson, RC, Dubois, AL, Piech, DK, Searcy, WA, and Nowicki, S. "Receiver response to an aggressive visual signal, the wing-waving display, in swamp sparrows (Accepted)." Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (2012). (Academic Article)
  - Anderson, RC, Searcy, WA, Hughes, M, and Nowicki, S. "The receiver-dependent cost of soft song: A signal of aggressive intent in songbirds." Animal Behaviour 83, no. 6 (2012): 1443-1448. Full Text
  - Lachan, RF, and Nowicki, S. "Can assessment of song learning accuracy be a reliable signaling system?." American Naturalist 180 (2012): 751-761. (Academic Article)
  - Searcy, WA, Anderson, RC, Ballentine, B, and Nowicki, S. "Limits to reliability in avian aggressive signals (Accepted)." Behaviour (2012). (Academic Article)
  - Sewall, K, Soha, J, Peters, S, and Nowicki, S. "Potential trade-off between vocal ornamentation and spatial ability in a songbird (Submitted)." Biology Letters (2012). (Academic Article)
  - Boogert, NJ, Anderson, RC, Peters, S, Searcy, WA, and Nowicki, S. "Song repertoire size in male song sparrows correlates with detour reaching, but not with other cognitive measures." Animal Behaviour 81, no. 6 (June 2011): 1209-1216. Full Text
  - DuBois, AL, Nowicki, S, and Searcy, WA. "Discrimination of vocal performance by male swamp sparrows." Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 65, no. 4 (2011): 717-726. Full Text
  - Nowicki, S, and Searcy, WA. "Are better singers smarter?." Behavioral Ecology 22, no. 1 (2011): 10-11. Full Text
  - Prather, JF, Peters, S, Nowicki, S, and Mooney, R. "Persistent representation of juvenile experience in the adult songbird brain." The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience 30, no. 31 (August 2010): 10586-10598. Full Text
  - Searcy, WA, Peters, S, Kipper, S, and Nowicki, S. "Female response to song reflects male developmental history in swamp sparrows." Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 64, no. 8 (August 2010): 1343-1349. Full Text
  - Prather, JF, Peters, S, Nowicki, S, and Mooney, R. "Latent representation of juvenile behaviors in the adult songbird brain." Journal of Neuroscience 30 (2010): 10586-10598. (Academic Article)
  - Searcy, WA, Peters, S, Kipper, S, and Nowicki, S. "Female sparrows use song to assess male developmental history." Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 64 (2010): 143-1349. (Academic Article)
  - Searcy, WA, and Nowicki, S. "The evolution of animal communication: Reliability and deception in signaling systems." The Evolution of Animal Communication: Reliability and Deception in Signaling Systems (January 1, 2010).
  - Searcy, WA, and Nowicki, S. "Sexual selection and the evolution of animal signals." Encyclopedia of Neuroscience (2010): 759-766. Full Text
  - Prather, JF, Nowicki, S, Anderson, RC, Peters, S, and Mooney, R. "Neural correlates of categorical perception in learned vocal communication." Nature Neuroscience 12, no. 2 (February 1, 2009): 221-228. (Academic Article) Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Prather, JF, Nowicki, S, Anderson, RC, Peters, S, and Mooney, R. "Neural correlates of categorical perception in learned vocal communication." Nature Neuroscience 12, no. 2 (February 2009): 221-228. Full Text
  - DuBois, AL, Nowicki, S, and Searcy, WA. "Swamp sparrows modulate vocal performance in an aggressive context." Biology Letters 5, no. 2 (2009): 163-165. Full Text
  - Anderson, RC, Searcy, WA, Peters, S, and Nowicki, S. "Soft song in song sparrows: Acoustic structure and implications for signal function." Ethology 114, no. 7 (2008): 662-676. Full Text
  - Anderson, RC, Searcy, WA, and Nowicki, S. "Testing the function of song-matching in birds: Responses of eastern male song sparrows Melospiza melodia to partial song-matching." Behaviour 145, no. 3 (2008): 347-363. Full Text
  - Ballentine, B, Searcy, WA, and Nowicki, S. "Reliable aggressive signalling in swamp sparrows." Animal Behaviour 75, no. 2 (2008): 693-703. Full Text
  - Prather, JF, Peters, S, Nowicki, S, and Mooney, R. "Precise auditory-vocal mirroring in neurons for learned vocal communication." Nature 451, no. 7176 (January 2008): 305-310. Full Text
  - Searcy, WA, Anderson, RC, and Nowicki, S. "Is bird song a reliable signal of aggressive intent? A reply." Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 62, no. 7 (2008): 1213-1216. Full Text
  - Searcy, WA, and Nowicki, S. "Bird song and the problem of signal reliability." American Scientist 96 (2008): 114-121. (Academic Article)
  - Searcy, WA, and Nowicki, S. "Bird song and the problem of honest communication." American Scientist 96, no. 2 (2008): 114-121. Full Text
  - Anderson, RC, Nowicki, S, and Searcy, WA. "Soft song in song sparrows: Response of males and females to an enigmatic signal." Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 61, no. 8 (2007): 1267-1274. Full Text
  - Hughes, M, Anderson, RC, Searcy, WA, Bottensek, LM, and Nowicki, S. "Song type sharing and territory tenure in eastern song sparrows: implications for the evolution of song repertoires." Animal Behaviour 73, no. 4 (2007): 701-710. Full Text
  - Searcy, WA, Anderson, RC, and Nowicki, S. "Bird song as a signal of aggressive intent." Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 60, no. 2 (June 2006): 234-241. Full Text
  - Searcy, WA, and Nowicki, S. "Signal interception and the use of soft song in aggressive interactions." Ethology 112, no. 9 (2006): 865-872. Full Text
  - Nowicki, S, and Searcy, WA. "Adaptive priorities in brain development: theoretical comment on Pravosudov et al. (2005)." Behavioral Neuroscience 119, no. 5 (October 2005): 1415-1418. Full Text
  - Anderson, RC, Searcy, WA, and Nowicki, S. "Partial song matching in an eastern population of song sparrows, Melospiza melodia." Animal Behaviour 69, no. 1 (2005): 189-196. Full Text
  - Nowicki, S, and Searcy, WA. "Song and mate choice in birds: How the development of behavior helps us understand function." Auk 122, no. 1 (2005): 1-14.
  - Nowicki, S, and Searcy, WA. "Song function and the evolution of female preferences: why birds sing, why brains matter." Ann N Y Acad Sci 1016 (June 2004): 704-723. (Review) Full Text Link to Item
  - Searcy, WA, Peters, S, and Nowicki, S. "Effects of early nutrition on growth rate and adult size in song sparrows Melospiza melodia." Journal of Avian Biology 35, no. 3 (May 2004): 269-279. Full Text
  - Ballentine, , B, , Hyman, J, and Nowicki, S. "Singing performance influences female response to male bird song: an experimental test." Behavioral Ecology 15 (2004): 163-168. (Academic Article)
  - Ballentine, B. "Vocal performance influences female response to male bird song: an experimental test." Behavioral Ecology 15, no. 1 (January 1, 2004): 163-168. Full Text
  - Hyman, J, Searcy, W, Nowicki, S, and Hughes, M. "Individual Variation in the Strength of Territory Defense in Male Song Sparrows: Correlates of Age, Territory Tenure, and Neighbor Aggressiveness." Behaviour 141, no. 1 (January 1, 2004): 15-27. Full Text
  - Podos, J, Peters, S, and Nowicki, S. "Calibration of song learning targets during vocal ontogeny in swamp sparrows, Melospiza georgiana." Animal Behaviour 68, no. 4 (2004): 929-940. Full Text
  - Podos, J, and Nowicki, S. "Performance limits on birdsong." (January 1, 2004): 318-342. (Chapter) Full Text
  - Podos, J, and Nowicki, S. "Beaks, adaptation, and vocal evolution in Darwin's finches." BioScience 54, no. 6 (2004): 501-510.
  - Searcy, , WA, , Peters, S, and Nowicki, S. "Effects of early nutrition on growth rate and adult size in song sparrows." Journal of Avian Biology 35 (2004): 269-279. (Academic Article)
  - Searcy, , WA, , Nowicki, S, and Peters, S. "Phonology and dialect discrimination in song sparrows (Melospiza melodia)." Ethology 109 (2003): 23-35. (Academic Article)
  - Searcy, WA, Nowicki, S, and Peters, S. "Phonology and geographic song discrimination in song sparrows." Ethology 109, no. 1 (2003): 23-35. Full Text
  - Nowicki, S, Searcy, WA, and Peters, S. "Brain development, song learning and mate choice in birds: a review and experimental test of the "nutritional stress hypothesis"." Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology 188, no. 11-12 (December 2002): 1003-1014. Full Text
  - Nowicki, S, Searcy, WA, and Peters, S. "Quality of song learning affects female response to male bird song." Proceedings. Biological Sciences 269, no. 1503 (September 2002): 1949-1954. Full Text
  - Searcy, WA, Nowicki, S, Hughes, M, and Peters, S. "Geographic song discrimination in relation to dispersal distances in song sparrows." The American Naturalist 159, no. 3 (March 2002): 221-230. Full Text
  - Nowicki, S, Searcy, WA, Krueger, T, and Hughes, M. "Individual variation in response to simulated territorial challenge among territory-holding song sparrows." Journal of Avian Biology 33, no. 3 (2002): 253-259. Full Text
  - Mooney, R, Hoese, W, and Nowicki, S. "Auditory representation of the vocal repertoire in a songbird with multiple song types." Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 98, no. 22 (October 23, 2001): 12778-12783. Full Text Link to Item
  - Hoese, WJ, and Nowicki, S. "Using "the organism" as a conceptual focus in an introductory biology course." American Biology Teacher 63, no. 3 (2001): 176-182.
  - Nowicki, S, Searcy, WA, Hughes, M, and Podos, J. "The evolution of bird song: Male and female response to song innovation in swamp sparrows." Animal Behaviour 62, no. 6 (2001): 1189-1195. Full Text
  - Nowicki, S, Hasselquist, D, Bensch, S, and Peters, S. "Nestling growth and song repertoire size in great reed warblers: evidence for song learning as an indicator mechanism in mate choice." Proceedings. Biological Sciences 267, no. 1460 (December 2000): 2419-2424. Full Text
  - Hoese, WJ, Podos, J, Boetticher, NC, and Nowicki, S. "Vocal tract function in birdsong production: experimental manipulation of beak movements." J Exp Biol 203, no. Pt 12 (June 2000): 1845-1855. Link to Item
  - Hoese, WJ, Nowicki, S, and Mooney, R. "Auditory encoding of multiple song types in the swamp sparrow." Soc. Neurosci. Abstracts 26 (2000): 2030-. (Academic Article)
  - Peters, S, Searcy, WA, Beecher, MD, and Nowicki, S. "Geographic variation in the organization of Song Sparrow repertoires." Auk 117, no. 4 (2000): 936-942.
  - Searcy, WA, Nowicki, S, and Hogan, C. "Song type variants and aggressive signaling." Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol 48 (2000): 358-363. (Academic Article)
  - Searcy, WA, Nowicki, S, and Hogan, C. "Song type variants and aggressive context." Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 48, no. 5 (2000): 358-363.
  - Nowicki, S, Peters, S, Searcy, WA, and Clayton, C. "The development of within-song type variation in song sparrows." Anim Behav 57, no. 6 (June 1999): 1257-1264. Full Text Link to Item
  - Nowicki, S, Peters, S, Searcy, WA, and Clayton, C. "The development of song variation in song sparrows." Anim. Behav. 57 (1999): 1257-1264. (Academic Article)
  - Podos, J, Nowicki, S, and Peters, S. "Permissiveness in vocal syntax learning in the swamp sparrow." Anim. Behav. 58 (1999): 93-103. (Academic Article)
  - Podos, J, Nowicki, S, and Peters, S. "Permissiveness in the learning and development of song syntax in swamp sparrows." Animal Behaviour 58, no. 1 (1999): 93-103. Full Text
  - Searcy, WA, Nowicki, S, and Peters, S. "Song types as fundamental units in vocal repertoires." Animal Behaviour 58, no. 1 (1999): 37-44. Full Text
  - Erickson, CJ, Nowicki, S, Dollar, L, and Goehring, N. "Percussive foraging: Stimuli for prey location by aye-ayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis)." International Journal of Primatology 19, no. 1 (1998): 111-122.
  - Hughes, M, Nowicki, S, Searcy, WA, and Peters, S. "Song-type sharing in song sparrows: Implications for repertoire function and song learning." Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 42, no. 6 (1998): 437-446. Full Text
  - Hughes, M, Nowicki, S, and Lohr, B. "Call learning in black-capped chickadees (Parus atricapillus): The role of experience in the development of 'chick-a-dee' calls." Ethology 104, no. 3 (1998): 232-249.
  - Nowicki, S, Peters, S, and Podos, J. "Song learning, early nutrition and sexual selection in." American Zoologist 38, no. 1 (January 1, 1998): 179-190. Full Text
  - Nowicki, S, Searcy, WA, and Huches, M. "The territory defense function of song in song sparrows: A test with the speaker occupation design." Behaviour 135, no. 5 (1998): 615-628.
  - Searcy, WA, Nowicki, S, and Hughes, M. "The Response of Male and Female Song Sparrows to Geographic Variation in Song." The Condor 99, no. 3 (August 1997): 651-657. Full Text
  - Peters, S, and Nowicki, S. "Development of tonal quality in birdsong: Further evidence from song sparrows." Ethology 102, no. 4 (1996): 323-335.
  - Strote, J, and Nowicki, S. "Responses to songs with altered tonal quality by adult song sparrows (Melospiza melodia)." Behvavior 130 (1996): 1-15. (Academic Article)
  - Strote, J, and Nowicki, S. "Responses to songs with altered tonal quality by adult song sparrows (melospiza melodia)." Behaviour 133, no. 3-4 (1996): 161-172.
  - Podos, J, Sherer, JK, Peters, S, and Nowicki, S. "Ontogeny of vocal tract movements during song production in song sparrows." Animal Behaviour 50, no. 5 (1995): 1287-1296.
  - Searcy, WA, Podos, J, Peters, S, and Nowicki, S. "Discrimination of song types and variants in song sparrows." Animal Behaviour 49, no. 5 (1995): 1219-1226. Full Text
  - LOHR, B, WEISMAN, R, and NOWICKI, S. "THE ROLE OF PITCH CUES IN SONG RECOGNITION BY CAROLINA CHICKADEES (PARUS-CAROLINENSIS)." BEHAVIOUR 130 (August 1994): 1-15. Full Text Link to Item
  - Nowicki, S, Podos, J, and Valdés, F. "Temporal patterning of within-song type and between-song type variation in song repertoires." Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 34, no. 5 (May 1994): 329-335. Full Text
  - Jacobs, M, Nowacek, DP, Gerhart, DJ, Cannon, G, Nowicki, S, and Forward, RB. "Seasonal changes in vocalization during behavior of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin." Estuaries 16, no. 2 (1993): 241-246. Full Text
  - Westneat, MW, Jr, JHL, Hoese, W, and Nowicki, S. "Kinematics of birdsong: functional correlation of cranial movements and acoustic features in sparrows." Journal of Experimental Biology 182 (1993): 147-171.
  - PETERS, S, MARLER, P, and NOWICKI, S. "SONG SPARROWS LEARN FROM LIMITED EXPOSURE TO SONG MODELS." CONDOR 94, no. 4 (November 1992): 1016-1019. Full Text Link to Item
  - NOWICKI, S, MARLER, P, MAYNARD, A, and PETERS, S. "IS THE TONAL QUALITY OF BIRDSONG LEARNED - EVIDENCE FROM SONG SPARROWS." ETHOLOGY 90, no. 3 (March 1992): 225-235. Link to Item
  - PODOS, J, PETERS, S, RUDNICKY, T, MARLER, P, and NOWICKI, S. "THE ORGANIZATION OF SONG REPERTOIRES IN SONG SPARROWS - THEMES AND VARIATIONS." ETHOLOGY 90, no. 2 (February 1992): 89-106. Link to Item
  - Nowicki, S, Westneat, M, and Hoese, W. "Birdsong: motor function and the evolution of communication." Seminars in Neuroscience 4, no. 6 (1992): 385-390.
  - LOHR, B, NOWICKI, S, and WEISMAN, R. "PITCH PRODUCTION IN CAROLINA CHICKADEE SONGS." CONDOR 93, no. 1 (February 1991): 197-199. Full Text Link to Item
  - NOWICKI, S, HUGHES, M, and MARLER, P. "FLIGHT SONGS OF SWAMP SPARROWS - ALTERNATIVE PHONOLOGY OF AN ALTERNATIVE SONG CATEGORY." CONDOR 93, no. 1 (February 1991): 1-11. Full Text Link to Item
  - Ball, GF, and Nowicki, S. "Assessment of song quality in photorefractory and photosensitive song sparrows." Animal Behaviour 40, no. 5 (1990): 986-987.
  - Nowicki, S, and Nelson, DA. "Defining natural categories in acoustic signals: Comparison of three methods applied to 'chick-a-dee' call notes." Ethology 86 (1990): 89-101. (Academic Article)
  - Nowicki, S, Mitani, JC, Nelson, DA, and Marler, P. "The communicative significance of tonality in birdsong: Responses to songs produced in helium." Bioacoustics 2 (1989): 35-46. (Academic Article)
  - Nowicki, S, and Ball, GF. "Testosterone induction of song in photosensitive and photorefractory male sparrows." Hormones and Behavior 23, no. 4 (1989): 514-525. Full Text
  - Nowicki, S. "Vocal plasticity in captive black-capped chickadees: The acoustic basis and rate of call convergence." Anim. Behav. 37 (1989): 64-73. (Academic Article)
  - Nowicki, S. "Vocal plasticity in captive black-capped chickadees: the acoustic basis and rate of call convergence." Animal Behaviour 37, no. PART 1 (1989): 74-89.
  - Nowicki, S, and Marler, P. "How do birds sing?." Music Perception 5 (1988): 391-426. (Academic Article)
  - Nowicki, S. "Vocal tract resonances in oscine bird sound production: Evidence from birdsongs in a helium atmosphere." Nature 325, no. 6099 (1987): 53-55.
  - Nowicki, S, and Capranica, RR. "Bilateral syringeal coupling during phonation of a songbird." The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience 6, no. 12 (December 1986): 3595-3610. Full Text
  - Nowicki, S, and Capranica, RR. "Bilateral syringeal interaction in vocal production of an oscine bird sound." Science 231, no. 4743 (1986): 1297-1299.
  - Nowicki, S. "A question of identity: the call of the black-capped chickadee." Living Bird Quart. 3, no. 1 (1984): 30-. (Academic Article)
  - Nowicki, S. "Flock-specific recognition of chickadee calls." Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 12, no. 4 (July 1983): 317-320. Full Text
  - Eisner, T, and Nowicki, S. "Spider web protection through visual advertisement: Role of the stabilimentum." Science 219, no. 4581 (1983): 185-186.
  - Jackman, R, Nowicki, S, Aneshansley, DJ, and Eisner, T. "Predatory capture of toads by fly larvae." Science 222, no. 4623 (1983): 515-516.
  - Jefson, M, Meinwald, J, Nowicki, S, Hicks, K, and Eisner, T. "Chemical defense of a rove beetle (Creophilus maxillosus)." Journal of Chemical Ecology 9, no. 1 (1983): 159-180. Full Text
  - Nowicki, S, and Eisner, T. "Predatory capture of bombardier beetles by a tabanid fly larva." Psyche 90 (1983): 119-122. (Academic Article)
  - Jain, SC, Nowicki, S, Eisner, T, and Meinwald, J. "Insect repellents from vetiver oil: I. zizanal and epizizanal." Tetrahedron Letters 23, no. 45 (1982): 4639-4642.
  - Mammen, DL, and Nowicki, S. "Individual differences and within-flock convergence in chickadee calls." Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 9, no. 3 (1981): 179-186. Full Text
  - Eisner, T, Nowicki, S, Goetz, M, and Meinwald, J. "Red cochineal dye (Carminic acid): Its role in nature." Science 208 (1980): 1038-1040. (Academic Article)
  - Eisner, T, Nowicki, S, Goetz, M, and Meinwald, J. "Red cochineal dye (carminic acid): Its role in nature." Science 208, no. 4447 (1980): 1039-1042.
  - Nowicki, S, and Armitage, KB. "Behavior of juvenile yellow-bellied marmots: Play and social integration." Z. Tierpsychol. 51 (1979): 85-105. (Academic Article)
Teaching & Mentoring
Recent Courses
- BIOLOGY 89S: First-Year Seminar 2018
- BIOLOGY 293: Research Independent Study 2018
- BIOLOGY 493: Research Independent Study 2018
- BIOLOGY 791T: Tutorial 2016
- BIOLOGY 792: Research 2016
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Service to Duke
- Dean and Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. December 19, 2012 2012

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