Comparative Effects of Urban Development and Anthropogenic Noise on Bird Songs
Many avian species live, breed, and communicate in urban areas. To survive and reproduce in these areas, birds must transmit their signals to intended receivers. As an arena for acoustic communication, 2 salient features of the urban environment are an abundance of reflective surfaces and a high level of low-frequency anthropogenic noise. Each presents unique […]
Stereotyped and Non-Stereotyped Features of the Temporal Patterning of Singing Sessions in the Ovenbird Seiurus auricapillus
Temporal patterning of recorded singing sessions of 26 different male ovenbirds Seiurus auricapillus (Fringillidae: Parulini) was analyzed computationally, in order to test whether differences among songs are potentially informative or merely reflect performance errors. Repeated songs within a singing session by a given male showed relatively little inter-individual variation in the duration of the song […]
Mate call as reward: Acoustic communication signals can acquire positive reinforcing values during adulthood in female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata)
Social stimuli can have rewarding properties and promote learning. In birds, conspecific vocalizations like song can act as a reinforcer, and specific song variants can acquire particular rewarding values during early life exposure. Here we ask if, during adulthood, an acoustic signal simpler and shorter than song can become a reward for a female songbird […]