Species-specific coding in bird song

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Red-winged blackbirds and brown-headed cowbirds were trained with operant conditioning techniques and food reinforcement to categorize complex song themes from both their own (conspecific) and from the other (alien) species’ vocal repertoire. Following training, songs were separated into initial and terminal portions and birds were retested for identification of the isolated song elements. Results revealed no species differences in identifying the ’’introductory note’’ portions of redwing and cowbird song; however, redwings were superior to cowbirds in identifying terminal redwing ’’trills,’’ while cowbirds were superior in identifying terminal cowbird ’’whistles.’’