Title

Sexual responses of female canaries at the onset of song stimuli

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1992

Publication Title

Experientia

Volume

48

Issue

7

First Page

679

Last Page

682

Abstract

The salience of a short conspecific song phrase versus a long one or a short heterospecific song phrase was tested in females of the common domesticated canary (Serinus canaria). All phrases were computer-edited. The copulation solicitation displays (CSD) served as an index of female responses. The results support the hypothesis that female canaries are able at the onset of a song phrase stimulus: 1) to respond to a conspecific one by displaying high levels of CSD and 2) to discriminate a conspecific from a heterospecific one. Proximal explanations examine the link between perceptual processes and phonology in the canary. Functional explanations investigate the relations between female responsiveness and the process of pair formation.

DOI

10.1007/BF02118318

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