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Song plasticity over time and vocal learning in clay-colored thrushes

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Abstract

Songbirds have been traditionally classified into close-ended or open-ended learning species according to the length of the sensitive period during which birds are able to memorize new vocalizations. Closed-ended learners are generally not capable of changing their song after the first year of life, while open-ended learners show song plasticity as adults. A few Turdus species have been suggested to be open-ended learners, but no long-term study has been conducted to investigate their song plasticity over time. We analyzed the songs of clay-colored thrushes, T. grayi, over four successive breeding seasons to assess song plasticity in their syllable repertoires within and between breeding seasons. A total of 16,262 syllables were classified through visual inspection of spectrograms and multidimensional scaling analysis based on spectrogram correlations. On average, 563 ± 153 (SD) syllables per male per breeding season were analyzed. Male repertoire size was 9–20 syllable types. Males were capable of modifying their syllable repertoire between the initial and final periods of the breeding season. Song plasticity within breeding seasons may be associated with imitation between neighboring males, suggesting song learning in males that were ≥2 years old. This short-term plasticity is not enough, however, to explain the high proportion of change (mean = 65 % syllable types) in repertoire composition between breeding seasons in adult males. Song plasticity resulting from annual changes in repertoire composition could be explained by open-ended learning, but another mechanism, extended memory and re-expression, could also explain long-term plasticity. Experimental studies controlling the acoustic environment are needed to determine which mechanism is responsible for such a high level of song plasticity.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Oficina de Seguridad y Transito of the University of Costa Rica for providing logistical support. Bill Eberhard, Eric Fuchs, and Bill Searcy made helpful comments on earlier versions of the manuscript. Laura Strickman and Dean Hawthorne helped to configure a sound detector in Raven. Jeff Woodman and Tim Burr provided recording equipment.

Ethical standard

All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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  1. Luis E. Vargas-Castro

    Present address: Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA

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  1. Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica

    Luis E. Vargas-Castro, Natalie V. Sánchez & Gilbert Barrantes

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  1. Luis E. Vargas-Castro
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Correspondence to Luis E. Vargas-Castro.

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Vargas-Castro, L.E., Sánchez, N.V. & Barrantes, G. Song plasticity over time and vocal learning in clay-colored thrushes. Anim Cogn 18, 1113–1123 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-015-0883-z

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