Song learning and mate choice in estrildid finches raised by two species

Abstract

Male zebra finches, Taeniopygia guttata, and Bengalese finches, Lonchura striata, were raised normally or cross-fostered to the other species until 35 days of age and then housed until 70 days old with two song tutors, one from each species. Males raised normally based their song on that of the conspecific tutor whereas cross-fostered males also learned from the other tutor, reflecting both own-species bias and a tendency to learn from the tutor whose song was similar to the father's. Males raised by one bird from each species learned from the father as well as the tutor(s) but were more likely to learn from the tutor whose song was similar to the father's if the father was a conspecific. Comparing these song learning results with those from male choice tests suggests there is no direct link between song learning and sexual imprinting.