{"id":1469,"date":"2022-04-28T03:43:54","date_gmt":"2022-04-28T03:43:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vanderbilt.edu\/evolution\/?p=1469"},"modified":"2022-11-02T19:32:02","modified_gmt":"2022-11-02T19:32:02","slug":"researchers-suggest-that-complex-bird-songs-might-require-large-populations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vanderbilt.edu\/evolution\/researchers-suggest-that-complex-bird-songs-might-require-large-populations\/","title":{"rendered":"Researchers suggest that complex bird songs might require large populations"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies Initiative scientific coordinator<\/em><\/p>\n

Growing up in a small community has its advantages, but if you want to learn from world experts, you may have better luck in a big city. This is the case in the world of birds as well. Large populations of birds might be better able to maintain complex songs than small populations \u2013 all because of access to high-quality tutors.<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/a>
Creanza and Hudson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Two researchers associated with the Evolutionary Studies Initiative<\/a>, postdoctoral researcher Emily Hudson and assistant professor of Biological Sciences Nicole Creanza<\/a>, published their findings in the journal Evolution<\/em>.<\/p>\n

According to Hudson, \u201cwe hypothesized that a simple song can be maintained in a population of any size, whereas a complex song might only be maintained in a large population.\u201d<\/p>\n

For example, the Golden-crowned sparrow seen in the video embedded below has a simpler song than some of the same species from larger populations. This individual lacks a rapid trill at the end – as heard in the sounds embedded at the bottom of this story.<\/p>\n

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