Parental influence on begging call structure in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata): evidence of early vocal plasticity

Abstract

Begging calls are signals of need used by young birds to elicit care from adults. Different theoretical frameworks have been proposed to understand this parent–offspring communication. But relationships between parental response and begging intensity, or between begging characteristics and proxies of a young’s need remain puzzling. Few studies have considered the adjustment of nestling begging features to previous experience as a possible explanation of these discrepancies. In this study, we tested the effect of a heterospecific rearing environment on individual developmental trajectories of the acoustic structure of nestling begging calls. Fifty-two zebra finch chicks were fostered either to Bengalese finch or to zebra finch parents, and begging calls were recorded at several stages of nestling development. Acoustic analyses revealed that the development of the spectral features of the begging calls differed between experimental conditions: chicks reared by Bengalese finches produced higher pitched and less broadband begging calls than chicks reared by conspecific parents. Differences were stronger in males than females and were not explained by differences in growth rate. We conclude that nestling begging calls can be plastic in response to social interactions with parents.

Do we hear what birds hear in birdsong?

“…The acoustic structure of calls can be mediated by (1) environment (e.g. noise) (Nemet & Brumn, 2009; Villain et al, 2016), (2) social context and/or prior experience (Mundinger, 1970; Hile & Striedter, 2000; Villain et al, 2015; Boucaud et al, 2016), and (3) hormones and motivational state (Cynx et al, 2004; Hetrick & Sieving, 2011; Perez et al, 2012; 2016). The impact of these observations is something that Marler anticipated decades ago: that birds may be communicating important information through their vocalizations in ways we still do not understand.…”

Flexible communication within bird families—The consequences of behavioral plasticity for parent–offspring coadaptation

“…However, this approach tends to ignore the flexibility of parental provisioning and offspring begging (Kilner & Johnstone, 1997;Wright & Leonard, 2002). Zebra finch nestlings, for example, that were raised by Bengalese finches produced a different begging call than when raised by conspecifics (Villain, Boucaud, Bouchut, & Vignal, 2015). From a proximate point of view, such behavioral finetuning could be achieved via pre-and post-natal social learning and habituation between parents and offspring (e.g., Kedar, Rodríguez-Gironés, & Yedvab, 2000;Colombelli-Négrel, Hauber, & Kleindorfer, 2014;Colombelli-Négrel, Webster, & Dowling, 2016).…”

“…From a proximate point of view, such behavioral finetuning could be achieved via pre-and post-natal social learning and habituation between parents and offspring (e.g., Kedar, Rodríguez-Gironés, & Yedvab, 2000;Colombelli-Négrel, Hauber, & Kleindorfer, 2014;Colombelli-Négrel, Webster, & Dowling, 2016). Zebra finch nestlings, for example, that were raised by Bengalese finches produced a different begging call than when raised by conspecifics (Villain, Boucaud, Bouchut, & Vignal, 2015). Thus, begging can be adjusted in response to the social environment, here the parents.…”

The variability of song variability in wild and domesticated zebra finchesTaeniopygia guttata

“…Juvenile zebra finches were tutored by Bengalese finches, Lonchura striata domestica. This approach has been used successfully used many times in experiments with zebra finches (e.g., Eales 1987a;ten Cate 1987;Clayton 1989;Takahasi et al 2006;Campbell and Hauber 2009;Campbell and Hauber 2009;Soma 2011;Villain et al 2015). In each case, a male zebra finch was placed with a male Bengalese finch tutor in a small cage; these cages had visual barriers between them so they could not see other tutors or cross-fostered zebra finches.…”