Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Bird Songs - Random, Inborn, or Learned?






I've been reading the most interesting book by Donald Kroodsma
To view a sample of it or to buy it, 
click on the link above to take you to the Amazon bookstore.
Included in it is a CD of birdsongs which I have really enjoyed.

What I've found the most interesting is that some birds,
like the Eastern Phoebe, seem to have their songs built in them.
Other song birds, like the little wren, have to practice learning
the songs of their parents.
I guess that's like a lot of us...
Some of us are born with a God-given talent,
and some of us have to work very hard at developing that talent!


I'm not sure about the blue jay's songs,
if they learn how to holler out "Thief Thief" from their parents,
or if it's inborn.

But I do know this guy had trouble hanging on to my feeder!


To see my unusual run of Names for God on Rocks post this week,
click HERE!

And if you'd like to see a variety of birds from around the world,
check out Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday blog hop!




21 comments:

  1. PaulaSeptember 18, 2013 at 10:13 AM

    Hi Esther! Thanks for stopping by and linking up for WW :)

    I always wondered about bird songs, and now I know the answer!

    Happy WW!

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  2. CommonWeederSeptember 18, 2013 at 4:02 PM

    I once interviewed an expert on birdsong and she explained that there are dialects. Robs, or whatever bird, may not sing exactly the same song in the south as they do in the mid-west, or northeast. Hard to get a mate if you fly off course.

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  3. eileeninmdSeptember 18, 2013 at 5:10 PM

    Nice variety of birds. I am the first to admit I can not sing! Wonderful photos, have a great evening!

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  4. Personalized Sketches and SentimentsSeptember 19, 2013 at 8:13 AM

    That was very interesting to learn! And also about what CommonWeeder mentioned of the birds different dialects!


    Blessings & Aloha!
    Stopping over through Ms. Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday "R"s.

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  5. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2013 at 8:26 AM

    Most interesting post and photos for R ~ thanks,
    carol ^_^

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  6. SarahBethSeptember 19, 2013 at 8:53 AM

    What an interesting book -- thanks for the link! I had really never thought about how birds acquired their songs -- I just thought they were all born with it!

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  7. Pride In Photos BeautySeptember 19, 2013 at 9:39 AM

    Ester, you have me laughing So hard, about your comment of your husband won't go on a duck tour, because of one sinking...what a hoot. This is our 4th duck tour in the U.S.....tell him it is all okay☺ Your bird photos are gorgeous!! Have a great day.
    Laurie

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  8. UnknownSeptember 19, 2013 at 10:24 AM

    Lovely shots! I don't think my singing would improve no matter how much I'd practice.

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  9. Rocky Mountain WomanSeptember 19, 2013 at 10:30 AM

    Lovely shots!

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  10. RamblingWoods2.comSeptember 19, 2013 at 11:34 AM

    Isn't that a great book and I have heard the chickadee young practicing in our yard near the feeders..Michelle

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  11. Sharon WagnerSeptember 19, 2013 at 1:51 PM

    The mourning or morning dove has my favorite coo. So sad.

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  12. LmkazmierczakSeptember 19, 2013 at 4:25 PM

    Have really noticed the song birds in the neighborhood this year....thanks for some interesting info♫ and thanks for commenting on my blog♥

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  13. fredamansSeptember 19, 2013 at 4:41 PM

    I love birds. Enough I have them tattooed.

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  14. TexWisGirlSeptember 19, 2013 at 5:53 PM

    nice color you get at your feeders. :)

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  15. Debra at HOMESPUN: http://www.thehomespun.com September 20, 2013 at 6:16 AM

    Great post and bird photos ! :)

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  16. Aritha V. September 20, 2013 at 1:02 PM

    Sweet birds! I love all your photos. The last one is cool :-)

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  17. KarenSeptember 20, 2013 at 4:53 PM

    This is so interesting. That would be a fun book to read and share with the grandkids.

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  18. storybeaderSeptember 20, 2013 at 8:13 PM

    sounds like a great book. And the CD would be a real help for me! Thanks for the title {:-Deb

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  19. Stewart MSeptember 21, 2013 at 2:26 AM

    I was reading some work recently about how some species of bird are changing the note range of the songs they sing so that they "cut through" the background noise of cities better.

    Stewart M - Melbourne

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  20. EG CameraGirlSeptember 21, 2013 at 11:22 AM

    I didn't realize some birds actually have to learn the songs they sing. I guess I've always thought they were all born with that knowledge.

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  21. JennySeptember 28, 2013 at 3:12 PM

    Birds are such remarkable creatures...

    I have never realized that some birds have to fine-tune their vocal chords to rejoice with their friends...

    Ravishing post for the letter "R"!

    Thanks for linking.

    A+

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