Auditory feedback influences the development of vocalizations in songbirds and parrots;
however, little is known about the development of hearing in these birds. The auditory
brainstem response was used to track the development of auditory sensitivity in budgerigars
from hatch to 6 weeks of age. Responses were first obtained from 1-week-old at high
stimulation levels at frequencies at or below 2 kHz, showing that budgerigars do not hear
well at hatch. Over the next week, thresholds improved markedly, and responses were …