The surprising reason birds sing - Partha P. Mitra
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Interested in learning more about the auditory development of songbirds? This scientific report investigates the significance of early auditory experience in juvenile birds.
This Smithsonian piece explores the effects of “embryonic learning” in zebra finches, who often sing to their eggs.
Produced by the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, this video captures young zebra finches memorizing the songs of their fathers.
Are humans like birds? The Nature journal discusses how babies learn to babble like birds learn to sing.
The following birdsong recordings from The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology were used in this lesson:
Toxostoma rufum; Maryland, United States; 13 April 1997; Wilbur L. Hershberger; ML 84769.
Brown Thrasher 1 MD Song.wav: Toxostoma rufum; Maryland, United States; 21 April 1998; Wilbur L. Hershberger; ML 94281.
Wood Thrush 4 NY Song.wav: Hylocichla mustelina; New York, United States; 15 May 1951; Arthur A. Allen, Peter Paul Kellogg; ML 11316.

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