The brains of bats and birds may have similar structures and functions, but the birds’ brains may differ in several ways. Bats, for example, have neurons critical for echolocation, and their brain architecture reflects this dependence on tracking sound echoes. Theunissen, a pioneer in bird research, reported experiments on the brain activity of zebra finches using their chirps as a stimulus. She showed that natural sounds produced better brain activity than tonal sounds.
Spectrograms of zebra finches’ vocalisations
Zebra finches’ vocalisations include two basic types. The long toneal call (LTC), which is a precursor to the adult Distance call, serves as a contact call. The other type is the Whine call, which is produced during early phases of pair bonding and during relay at the nest. Both types of calls have spectral shapes, but the Tuck call was most recognizable.
Zebra finches’ vocalisations contain spectral features, which are important for categorizing them. The spectrograms show that each of these sounds corresponds to a different frequency. These frequencies are known as the formants. The frequency values of different formants depend on the position of the tongue in the mouth cavity. For example, the /u/ sound has a lower F1 and F2 than the /I/ sound. These differences make it possible for zebra finches to discriminate between words with similar vowel sounds.
To classify the zebra finches’ vocalisations, researchers analyzed 3405 zebra finches’ vocalisations. They then filtered these vocalisations to remove unscreened low-frequency and high-frequency noise that could affect acoustic measurements. After this, the vocalisations were segmented into individual song syllables. This allowed the researchers to estimate the sequence of maxima and minima in the temporal amplitude envelope.
Tuning into mates’ songs in noisy environments
In a study of zebra finches, researchers found that juvenile birds tune into their mates’ songs when their environment is noisy. This may be a similar mechanism to socially guided vocal learning in humans, marmosets, and cowbirds. Zebra finches’ complex vocalizations have long fascinated researchers. They include everything from newborns asking for food to the whole colony raising alarm when danger is near.
Zebra finches use song as a key factor in mate selection. Their male counterparts sing to attract mates, while females use song as a means of choosing partners. However, the extent to which females depend on NCM for this behavior remains uncertain. To test this theory, female zebra finches were implanted with chronic cannulae directed at the NCM. The cannulae contained sodium channel blockers and lidocaine. These birds were then tested for song preference and sexual pairing behavior.
Zebra finches sing multi-syllable songs to attract potential mates. Their complex songs help them stand out from a crowd of potential Romeos. Scientists are beginning to understand this complex mechanism of song learning by studying the physical attributes of songbirds.
Necessity for a nest
A zebra finch is a small bird native to mainland Australia. They are a popular species used for lab studies and vocal learning. They breed regularly and form long-term pair bonds. They have three to four clutches a year. They are able to raise their young without a nest, but if you plan to breed them in captivity, you’ll need to provide them with nesting material.
Nesting materials can include fruit branches and Arbutus Manzanita trees. In addition to nesting material, you’ll need to provide food dishes. In most cases, two females will lay their eggs if there’s a nest available. It’s also essential to provide a cuttle bone for the babies, which are nourished by calcium from the eggshell. You can also put a pin through the eggs to discourage them from hatching.
Nest boxes for zebra finches are available in small and medium sizes. Some varieties are even lined with plastic to increase their lifespan and make cleaning easier. Some finches will accept a bamboo nesting cup or domed bamboo nest, while others may prefer an open-top nest box with a U-shaped entry hole.
Phonological processing
The zebra finch’s sound is complex, with many different components. Males and females have slightly different ranges of vocalizations, and males have a higher frequency than females. In both species, distance calls are produced after the birds have lost visual contact.
The zebra finch’s singing imitation begins with successive repetitions of a precursor syllable. Juveniles of estrildid finches learn their song while being raised by their mothers, without social tutors. The juveniles are not exposed to social stimuli until they reach 70-80 days of age, but the study shows that they learn to imitate the sound of their parents and siblings from early on in their development.
Males and females vary their song performance during courtship. Females are more likely to respond positively to high-performance courtship songs, which males modulate to suit the gender they are courting. However, females that do not receive developmental exposure to high-performing courtship songs did not demonstrate these behavioural preferences. The adult females who received no developmental song exposure did not exhibit these behavioural responses, but their auditory responses to high-performing courtship songs did not differ.
