Bird song and kin recognition: potential, constraints and evidence

Abstract

Bird song is a well-studied communication system which at first sight would seem to have the potential to transmit information on kinship. However there are very few examples of kin recognition by song (as distinct from calls). It is argued that this rarity is a consequence of two developmental constraints. Firstly, females do not usually sing, therefore song cannot give cues on female kinship. Secondly, in most species studied to date males learn their songs from neighbours (non-kin) rather than fathers, therefore a male's song is not related to kinship.