Sex differences in vocal learning in birds.

摘要: Young females pick up songs much faster than males but are not so versatile later on. A young songbird develops its by imitating adults1, just as human infants acquire speech, listening to and memorizing adult during an early sensitive phase then practising vocalizations until they match the memory formed earlier2. Here I investigate whether patterns of song learning differ between sexes among northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis), one a few temperate species in which both sing, rather males. find that learn same number less one-third time; however, auditory experience is essential for develop their songs, whereas it necessary do so.