Behavioral changes, such as those involved in mating, foraging, and migration, can
generate reproductive barriers between populations. Birds, in particular, are known for their
great diversity in these behaviors, and so behavioral isolation is often proposed to be the
major driver of speciation. Here, we review empirical evidence to evaluate the importance of
behavioral isolation in the early stages of avian speciation. Experimentally measured mating
preferences indicate that changes in mating behavior can result in premating barriers, with …