The function of bird song is closely linked to sexual selection. A fundamental question regarding the evolution of sexually selected male signals is how their honesty is maintained. The neural space required for storing a large song repertoire size has traditionally been identified as a key constraint. However, it is often forgotten that bird song is a multifaceted behaviour, and that the different characters that comprise it have specific costs. Recent research has revealed the existence of new constraints, such as social aggression or learning opportunities, which limit the expression of several song characteristics. We review the existing evidence for each of these constraints, revealing some major gaps in our knowledge of this fascinating biological system.

The honesty of bird song: multiple constraints for multiple traits

Male parental care, differential parental investment by females and sexual selection ☆

Acoustic communication is fundamental in avian territory defence and mate attraction. In urban environments where sound transmissions are more likely to be masked by low-frequency anthropogenic noi...

/pdf/effects-of-urban-noise-on-song-and-response-behaviour-in-ew7htvw4s4.pdf

Effects of urban noise on song and response behaviour in great tits.

Oscine songbirds invest a substantial amount of time producing song, which has important roles in male-male competition and in attracting and stimulating a mate (Howard, 1920), as well as in species (Becker, 1982) and individual (Falls, 1982) recognition. Their diverse and often elaborate songs have placed them at the interface of neurobiology, behavior, and ecology as excellent subjects in which to study vocal communication. Toward this end, neurobiologists have made important advances in understanding the neural basis of vocal learning (e.g., Doupe, 1993; Arnold, 1992) and the central control of song production (e.g., Yu and Margoliash, 1996; Vu et al., 1994) and behavioral ecologists have gained new insights into the perceptual significance and communicative functions of song (e.g., Searcy and Yasukawa, 1996).

Motor Correlates of Vocal Diversity in Songbirds

Although oscine bird song is widely thought to have evolved under the influence of sexual selection, few studies have used phylogenetic comparative methods to investigate how these vocalizations have changed historically. In the present study, we use a molecular phylogeny based on mitochondrial sequence data to reconstruct vocal evolution in the oropendolas and caciques, an oscine group with diverse taxon-specific song patterns and a wide range in levels of sexual size dimorphism. Our reconstructions show that large changes in song organization and structure have occurred on branches of the phylogeny with relatively high levels of size dimorphism. The particular vocal components that changed, however, often differed in different phylogenetic lineages. These patterns indicate that sexual selection has had important influences on song evolution in these birds, but has targeted different components of song in different taxa. Our results provide insight into how sexual selection influences bird song and suggest directions for future research to uncover the behavioral mechanisms driving vocal evolution. Copyright 2004.

/pdf/patterns-of-song-evolution-and-sexual-selection-in-the-3xk7y76fka.pdf

Patterns of song evolution and sexual selection in the oropendolas and caciques

In this study we examine male song output as a measure of nest site quality in blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla). Song rate, breeding success, predation on nests and reaction to playbacks were investigated in individual males. Habitat features determining nest site and song post quality in terms of vegetation cover were compared between successful nests and nests that had suffered predation. We then related song rate of unmated males to habitat factors in territories and nesting sites in order to examine a possible predictor function of blackcap song for habitat quality. Several habitat features are responsible for variation in nesting success. These features also correlate with song rate of unmated males. The study indicates a potential role of song rate in the advertisement of territory quality. Furthermore, the data suggest that females use song rates rather than territory quality in mating decisions. The information females may gain about male quality in relation to territory quality are also discussed.

Song rate as a signal for nest site quality in blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla)

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Song rate as a signal for nest site quality in blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla)