As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Friday 23 February 2018

Some Birds Use Songs to Find a Mate For Life



Certain types of songbirds have evolved to use their songs to find mates that they will stay with for the rest of their lives. Researchers discovered that each sex uses what is called the sound control system to convert sound waves into social messages. Humans do something similar when they use vocal sounds and speech to communicate, but songbirds are far more advanced at it.

Finches, for example, must learn their songs during the first 90 days of their lives. If they are unable to do that, they will likely never find a mate. They may still be able to sing, but the song will be too poor to attract a mate.

The songs that finches sing are based on the songs of their fathers.

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