When a bird spots a predator and emits an alarm call, do its neighbors think "predator" and then react? Or do they automatically freeze or fly away because that's what they're wired to do?

Summary: Young zebra finches learn their birdsong by observing and imitating adult “tutor” birds, but they don’t follow just anyone. A new study shows that juvenile finches prefer tutors who sing ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The finches that call Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands home are ...

Baby birds may be negatively affected by the noise of traffic, even when still inside their eggs. This marks the first study that has explored the effects of traffic noise on baby birds when their ...

Think humans are the only ones who fall for a good voice? Think again! Our feathered friends, the zebra finches, have their own complex system of musical attraction. While humans might judge singers ...

Skyrmions are tiny whirlpools of magnetic spin that some researchers believe have useful properties that could unlock new kinds of computing. However, getting skyrmions to perform useful computational ...

To a human ear the songs of all male zebra finches sound more or less the same. But faced with a chorus of this simple song, female finches can pick the performer who sings most beautifully. Zebra ...

Using a new technique, scientists created genetic blueprints for kangaroos, penguins, sharks and more. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it ...

Most professional singers agree that practice makes perfect. And now research published in Nature Communications shows that songbirds also rely on a daily vocal workout—if they want to impress ...

In the highly social world of the zebra finch, every male has a unique song: a brief motif resembling the squeak of a mechanical toy that he chirps, often in rapid succession, in courtship and ...