Updated

Updated · The New York Times · Jun 26

Study Finds 120 Bachman's Sparrow Songs Shift as Habitat Filters Sound Transmission

Updated

Updated · The New York Times · Jun 26

Study Finds 120 Bachman's Sparrow Songs Shift as Habitat Filters Sound Transmission

1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 26

A new study found Bachman’s sparrows are more likely to retain song types that travel clearly through their habitat, adding physical environment to the usual social explanations for song learning.
Researchers said trees, dense shrubs and wind can scatter or block some sound waves, making degraded songs less likely to be copied by young birds during their learning phase.
Bachman’s sparrow populations use up to 120 song types, but an individual bird may learn only 48, helping explain why some songs become common while others fade.
The study, published March 24 in Bioacoustics, suggests habitat acoustics can shape how birdsong evolves across generations.

Sources

As habitats change, are complex bird songs being permanently silenced by the environment?

Why do some dense forests favor high-pitched bird songs while others favor low pitches?

If habitats act as acoustic filters, what does this mean for birds facing urban noise?

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