At 05:04 PM 4/7/2003, Kevin Colver wrote:
>It has been my impression that only the Passeriformes, Psittaciformes,
>and the Trochilidae "learned" their songs and/or calls. I believe the
>Columbiformes (doves) have the ability to sing "hard-wired" into their
>brains genetically and do not learn their songs. Any experts in the
>group to set us straight?
Current research by Erich Jarvis indicates that only those three bird clads
have the necessary glutamate receptors in their brains to allow vocal
learning. This trait is shared by bats, humans, and whales/dolphins, BTW.
See http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2003/0215jarvis.shtml for more info.
Doug
Doug Von Gausig
Clarkdale, Arizona, USA
Moderator
Nature Recordists e-mail group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/naturerecordists
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