How birds identify species information in song: A pattern recognition approach

Abstract

Pattern recognition theory (PRT) is a diverse array of models concerned with the recognition of spatial and temporal patterns by humans and machines. We have sought to use the theory to help us understand how passerines identify species information in conspecific song. In this paper, application of PRT provided (a) a tentative model for song recognition, (b) an improved methodology for song playback experiments, and (c) a theoretical analysis of the representation of the temporal structure of song. In each instance, PRT suggested better experiments and more detailed analyses than had been available previously.