EARLY ACQUISITION OF SONG IN THE ZEBRA FINCH, TAENIOPYGIA-GUTTATA

Young zebra finch males were tested for their ability to acquire species-specific song before reaching independence. Song copies developed by males kept with their fathers up to 35 days posthatching were as complete as those of males that remained in contact with their fathers until day 100, when song crystallization has finished. Young males can learn the entire song during a brief period early in life. This early acquisition phase and its influence on further song learning at a later age make it likely that males in the field will develop a song similar to that of their fathers. © 1990.