Ontogeny of Song Recognition in Birds

SYNOPSIS. This paper reviews song recognition in two congenericspecies of sparrow the swamp sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) andsong sparrow (Melospiza melodia). Data from psychophysical studiesof hearing, tutoring experiments with young birds, and fieldplayback studies with adult birds are considered together inorder to gain insight into the mechanisms of species recognitionthrough song development. In aggregate, the evidence suggestsa multi-stage process of song development consisting of an earlyperceptual preference for learning conspecific song, a sensorimotorphase of song development during which vocal output matchesan auditory memory as if through trial and error, and a finalphase of full song which functions in territorial defense andmate attraction.