Publisher Summary This chapter outlines the evolution of geographic variation in birdsong.
Studies of vocal signals in birds offer potentially useful opportunities for empirical tests of the …

Zebra finches are an important model for vocal learning and avian mate choice. The two are
contingent on each other: males' learned songs are addressed at females with learned …

Literature Cited to accompany Animal Communication, 2e Page 1 Principles of Animal
Communication, Second Edition Jack W. Bradbury and Sandra L. Vehrencamp Chapter 14 …

Male songbirds sing to establish territories and to attract mates. 1, 2 However, increasing
reports of singing in non-reproductive contexts 3 and by females 4, 5 show that song use is …

In species with mate choice, the choosy sex selects its mate based on traits that are thought
to indicate the mate's quality. In several bird species, females prefer males that sing more …

Neural circuits and behavior are shaped during developmental phases of maximal plasticity
known as sensitive or critical periods. Neural correlates of sensory critical periods have …

Across taxa, both neural growth and cognitive function show considerable developmental
plasticity. Data from studies of decision making, learning, and discrimination demonstrate …

Mate choice and mate attraction are important behaviours influencing the evolution of
elaborate traits. It is possible that male general cognitive performance plays an important …

The developmental stress hypothesis proposes that the honesty of bird song as a signal may
be maintained by costs incurred during development. That is, song complexity or other …

Divergent selection pressures among populations can result not only in significant
differentiation in morphology, physiology and behaviour, but also in how these traits are …