Behavioral Evidence for Song Learning in the Suboscine Bellbirds (Procnias spp.; Cotingidae)

Abstract Why vocal learning has evolved in songbirds, parrots, and hummingbirds but not in other avian groups remains an unanswered question. The difficulty in providing an answer stems not only from the challenge of reconstructing the conditions that favored vocal learning among ancestors of these groups but also from our incomplete knowledge of extant birds. Here we provide multiple lines of evidence for a previously undocumented, evolutionarily independent origin of vocal learning among the suboscine passerines. Working with bellbirds (Procnias spp.), we show that (1) a captive-reared Bare-throated Bellbird (P. nudicollis) deprived of conspecific song not only developed abnormal conspecific songs but also learned the calls of a Chopi Blackbird (Gnorimopsar chopi) near which it was housed; (2) songs of Three-wattled Bellbirds (P. tricarunculata) occur in three geographically distinct dialects (from north to south: Nicaragua, Monteverde, and Talamanca); (3) Three-wattled Bellbirds at Monteverde, Costa Rica, are often bilingual, having learned the complete song repertoire of both the Monteverde and Talamanca dialects; (4) immature bellbirds have an extended period of song development, lasting the 6 years in which they are in subadult plumage; and (5) adult male Three-wattled Bellbirds continually relearn their songs, visiting each others' song perches and adjusting their songs to track population-wide changes. Perhaps female preferences and strong sexual selection have favored vocal learning among bellbirds, and additional surveys for vocal learning among other lekking cotingas and other suboscines may reveal patterns that help determine the conditions that promote the evolution of vocal learning.

[1]  M. Raposo,et al.  Overestimation of vocal characters in Suboscine taxonomy (Aves: Passeriformes: Tyranni): causes and implications , 2022, Lundiana: International Journal of Biodiversity.

[2]  Jill M. Trainer.  Cultural Evolution in Song Dialects of Yellow‐rumped Caciques in Panama , 2010 .

[3]  M. Knörnschild,et al.  Complex vocal imitation during ontogeny in a bat , 2010, Biology Letters.

[4]  H. Lampe,et al.  Interspecific cross-fostering affects song acquisition but not mate choice in pied flycatchers, Ficedula hypoleuca , 2009, Animal Behaviour.

[5]  W. A. Cox,et al.  A Phylogenomic Study of Birds Reveals Their Evolutionary History , 2008, Science.

[6]  B. Snow.  A FIELD STUDY OF THE BEARDED BELLBIRD IN TRINIDAD , 2008 .

[7]  G. Powell,et al.  Genetic evidence supports song learning in the three‐wattled bellbird Procnias tricarunculata (Cotingidae) , 2007, Molecular ecology.

[8]  P. Ericson,et al.  A molecular phylogeny of the cotingas (Aves: Cotingidae). , 2007, Molecular phylogenetics and evolution.

[9]  E. Morton.  The singing life of birds: The art and science of listening to birdsong. , 2006 .

[10]  P. Ericson,et al.  Higher-level phylogeny and morphological evolution of tyrant flycatchers, cotingas, manakins, and their allies (Aves: Tyrannida). , 2006, Molecular phylogenetics and evolution.

[11]  Joel Cracraft,et al.  Phylogeny and diversification of the largest avian radiation. , 2004, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[12]  G. Powell,et al.  Habitat Linkages and the Conservation of Tropical Biodiversity as Indicated by Seasonal Migrations of Three‐Wattled Bellbirds , 2004 .

[13]  C. Boesch,et al.  Wild Chimpanzees Produce Group‐Specific Calls: a Case for Vocal Learning? , 2004 .

[14]  R. J. Parsons,et al.  DELAYED VOCAL MATURATION IN POLYGYNOUS YELLOW-RUMPED CACIQUES , 2002 .

[15]  C. ten Cate,et al.  Vocal signals, isolation and hybridization in the vinaceous dove (Streptopelia vinacea) and the ring-necked dove (S. capicola) , 2002 .

[16]  D. A. Nelson.  Song overproduction, selective attrition and song dialects in the white-crowned sparrow , 2000, Animal Behaviour.

[17]  D. Cato,et al.  Cultural revolution in whale songs , 2000, Nature.

[18]  W. W. Dimmick,et al.  A Preliminary Phylogenetic Hypothesis for the Cotingas (Cotingidae) Based on Mitochondrial DNA , 2000 .

[19]  B. Whitney,et al.  Use of vocalizations to establish species limits in antbirds (Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae) , 1998 .

[20]  J. W. Boughman,et al.  Vocal learning by greater spear–nosed bats , 1998, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences.

[21]  M. Konishi,et al.  A suboscine bird (eastern phoebe, Sayornis phoebe) develops normal song without auditory feedback , 1991, Animal Behaviour.

[22]  K. Aoki.  A Sexual-Selection Model for the Evolution of Imitative Learning of Song in Polygynous Birds , 1989, The American Naturalist.

[23]  L. Baptista,et al.  Song development in the white-crowned sparrow: social factors and sex differences , 1986, Animal Behaviour.

[24]  D. Kroodsma.  Songs of the Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) and Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) are Innate , 1984 .

[25]  B. Snow.  Territorial Behavior and Courtship of the Male Three-Wattled Bellbird , 1977 .

[26]  B. Snow.  Notes on the Behavior of the White Bellbird , 1973 .