What do songbirds teach us about learning?

Songbirds must also be able to hear themselves in order to learn to vocalize normally. read more

In my last post, “Vocal Practice is for the Birds” examined one similarity between human and songbird procedural learning: the necessity for practice before performance. Zebra finches sing a series of introductory notes to prepare before beginning their mating song, much like we warm up before playing an instrument or before an athletic competition. read more

Other groups of mammals do have vocal learning, including elephants, seals, walruses, whales, dolphins, and some bat species, typically used in mating or territorial disputes. However, since these vocal learning mammals are not easy to study in the lab, many scientists choose to instead study songbirds. read more

This learning has striking parallels to speech acquisition: like humans, birds must hear the sounds of adults during a sensitive period, and must hear their own voice while learning to vocalize. With the discovery and investigation of discrete brain structures required for singing, songbirds are now providing insights into neural mechanisms of learning. read more