Culture and Learning: Bird Song

Abstract

Singing behavior is ubiquitous in about 5700 species of songbirds (Passeriformes). Many non-human animals communicate by exchanging innate vocalization. In contrast, birdsongs are learned (imitated) and then culturally transmitted over generations. Within a species, the accumulation and spatial spread of song imitations can give rise to local song dialects, which are reminiscent of accents and dialects in spoken language. Song dialects are learned socially – from parents, siblings, peers or neighbors. Various social interactions define the patterns of cultural transmission – from social inhibition among siblings and competition between neighbors to cooperation in groups. Birdsong represents a rare but well-studied example of cumulative culture in animals. Song dialects can be stable throughout many generations, while sustaining high diversity of song elements (polymorphism). Polymorphism in song dialects can be explained by a balance between converging and diverging trends in song learning. However, dialects may also become behavioral pre-mating barriers and thus can lead to species diversification.