Bird Friendly Calgary

Not every bird song makes it to the next generation 🤯🎶

Researchers at Florida Atlantic University found that a bird's environment helps determine which songs get passed from one generation to the next. Studying Bachman's sparrows in the southeastern United States, they found that some songs travel through trees and wind more clearly than others, making them easier for young birds to hear and learn.

The researchers say those clearer songs may be more likely to become part of a population's long-term "song traditions," alongside other influences such as social learning and mate choice.