Sensitive period for song learning outlasts parent-offspring cohesion in wild zebra finches

Abstract

Communication is central to social behaviour, with vocalisations playing a crucial role in many species. In some species, vocalisations are learned, with songbirds being key to understanding vocal learning. The Australian zebra finch (Taeniopygia castanotis) is the most studied model organism for vocal learning. In captivity, juveniles are typically housed with their father, where males learn their father song and females develop a preference for that song. In nature, however, the social structure of zebra finches is more dynamic across space and time. To identify the natural social conditions during song learning, we followed zebra finch families across their early life in the wild using automated radio-tracking. The distance between juveniles and their parents increased post-fledging and became similar to the distance between juveniles and unrelated adults by the second half of the song learning period. These findings indicate a highly dynamic social environment during the song learning period and suggest that juvenile males could learn from many tutors and that females may develop broader song preferences. Thus, studies based on one-tutor paradigms should be interpreted carefully with respect to functional implications and highlight that future vocal learning studies could better reflect the social conditions under which song develops.