Song ontogenesis in starlings Sturnus vulgaris: are song and subsong continuous?

Abstract

The song of a young Starling kept in captivity was followed during most of his first 10 months of life. At first, a subsong appeared with a very variable structure; but it became clearer with age. A grouping of notes in motifs appeared from the beginning which reflected the organization of the warbling song of adult Starlings. The first whistles were given at nine months. Song recordings were also obtained from three females kept with the male. Under experimental conditions, they produced a song which revealed that females learn part of their partner's song. The relationship between adult song and subsong is discussed from structural and functional points of view.