Song acquisition in photosensitive and photorefractory male European starlings

Jörg Böhner; Martha Leah Chaiken; Gregory F. Ball; Peter Marler

doi:10.1016/0018-506X(90)90043-W

Song acquisition in photosensitive and photorefractory male European starlings

Jörg Böhner, Martha Leah Chaiken, Gregory F. Ball, Peter Marler

School of Arts and Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We tested the ability of 1-year-old European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) to acquire songs while in different physiological states. Photorefractory males, with low testosterone levels, learned songs as completely and as accurately as photosensitive males in full reproductive condition. This indicates that song acquisition in 1-year-old males does not depend on high levels of androgens. The ability to learn songs during the nonbreeding season may reflect the high song output of potential tutors through most of the year, including the photorefractory period, and may facilitate increases in song repertoire size in adulthood.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	582-594
Number of pages	13
Journal	Hormones and Behavior
Volume	24
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0018-506X(90)90043-W
State	Published - Dec 1990

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Endocrinology
Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
Behavioral Neuroscience

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title = "Song acquisition in photosensitive and photorefractory male European starlings",

abstract = "We tested the ability of 1-year-old European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) to acquire songs while in different physiological states. Photorefractory males, with low testosterone levels, learned songs as completely and as accurately as photosensitive males in full reproductive condition. This indicates that song acquisition in 1-year-old males does not depend on high levels of androgens. The ability to learn songs during the nonbreeding season may reflect the high song output of potential tutors through most of the year, including the photorefractory period, and may facilitate increases in song repertoire size in adulthood.",

author = "J{\"o}rg B{\"o}hner and Chaiken, {Martha Leah} and Ball, {Gregory F.} and Peter Marler",

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AU - Ball, Gregory F.

AU - Marler, Peter

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AB - We tested the ability of 1-year-old European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) to acquire songs while in different physiological states. Photorefractory males, with low testosterone levels, learned songs as completely and as accurately as photosensitive males in full reproductive condition. This indicates that song acquisition in 1-year-old males does not depend on high levels of androgens. The ability to learn songs during the nonbreeding season may reflect the high song output of potential tutors through most of the year, including the photorefractory period, and may facilitate increases in song repertoire size in adulthood.

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