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Animal Divorce: When and Why Pairs Break Up
Animal Divorce: When and Why Pairs Break Up
Many species of birds and other vertebrates form pair bonds and mate with just one other individual for much of their lives. But the unions don’t always work out. Scientists want to know the underlying factors.
Many species of birds and other vertebrates form pair bonds and mate with just one other individual for much of their lives. But the unions don’t always work out. Scientists want to know the underlying factors.
zebra finch
Zebra Finches Recognize the Calls of Over 40 Fellow Finches
Amanda Heidt | Nov 13, 2020 | 5 min read
Their ability to distinguish between individuals is strong evidence for fast mapping, a learning tool generally thought to belong only to humans.
The Scientist Speaks Podcast - Episode 1
Niki Spahich, PhD | Jan 30, 2020 | 1 min read
Birds on the Brain: The Neuroscience Behind Songbird Communication and Human Speech
Image of the Day: Species-Specific Songs
Emily Makowski | Nov 14, 2019 | 1 min read
Gene activity is linked to songbirds’ tunes.
Researchers Implant Memories in Zebra Finch Brains
Abby Olena, PhD | Oct 3, 2019 | 4 min read
Juvenile birds learn the length of the sounds in a song from a false memory introduced via optogenetics, instead of from real interactions with a tutor bird.
Image of the Day: Watch and Learn
Carolyn Wilke | Feb 25, 2019 | 1 min read
Young zebra finches that receive feedback after they sing from a video of a fluffed-up female eventually develop more accurate tunes.
Image of the Day: Red Alert
Sukanya Charuchandra | Aug 6, 2018 | 1 min read
Female zebra finches prefer red-beaked male finches over their orange-beaked counterparts.
Birds Warn Unborn Chicks About Warmer Weather
Alison F. Takemura | Aug 22, 2016 | 2 min read
Zebra finches sing a special song that appears to help their offspring better adapt to a hotter climate, according to a study.
Zebra Finches Aid Neurodegeneration Research
Jenny Rood | Jun 1, 2016 | 4 min read
Bird brains might tell us a lot about how human brains malfunction in diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
Behavior Brief
Karen Zusi | Oct 22, 2015 | 4 min read
A round-up of recent discoveries in behavior research
Bird Song Explains Why Babies Babble
Kate Yandell | Jul 2, 2013 | 2 min read
Both birds and children struggle to learn transitions between syllables, practicing them extensively as they learn to speak or sing.
Behavior Brief
Bob Grant | Aug 23, 2011 | 4 min read
A round-up of recent discoveries in behavior research
Estrogen’s New Role
Jessica P. Johnson | Aug 2, 2011 | 1 min read
The well-studied hormone functions as a neurotransmitter in the brains of zebra finches.