When do birds learn to sing?

[emf]

I've been watching a juvenile robin in my garden for the last couple of weeks or so. It's always been silent until this morning when it's suddenly seemed to have found its voice and has been serenading me for a good couple of hours now.

Hence my question. At what 'age' do fledglings learn to sing? Can they sing straightaway but don't until they gather their confidence or do they wait awhile before they acquire the skill?

[scholesy]

Don't know if it would be termed as 'learned', more as just development.

Isn't it when the larynx has reached the appropriate stage of development to produce the song.

A call for food in the nest is just a simple call. Whereas a bird song would require a greater developed vocal cords.

i'm not that sure to be honest.

paul

[smartie]

This news item from last year refers to a piece of research which may give you some answers - or at least some theories.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4271511.stm

[Bushcraft]

They have to be 966 hours and 12 minutes old before this feature kicks in

[nightshade]

Listening to young birds in my garden I think they must learn from
hearing older birds,as you say they are silent for the most part
then part songs develop as plumage changes occur and by the
following Spring some even have variations of their own

[emf]

Originally Posted by Bushcraft

They have to be 966 hours and 12 minutes old before this feature kicks in

Bushcraft, I'm a novice at this birdwatching mallarky and don't know whether to believe you or not!

And thanks, Smartie for that research link. It sort of works. This morning when the j. robin was singing, there was an answering song around about and two other robins made a brief appearance for a short time, so maybe it was learning and practising.

This particular j. robin has become a favourite of mine. Whilst it's occasionally on its own, it more often than not flies in with the regular 'sparrow boy' bunch who stop by for breakfast, snack, elevensies, snack, lunch, snack, tea, snack, high tea, snack, dinner!

This evening, it again serenaded me for about 30 minutes during dusk and I felt quite priveleged!

[Bushcraft]

[quote=emf]Bushcraft, I'm a novice at this birdwatching mallarky and don't know whether to believe you or not! QUOTE]


sorry, no just me messing about but they do sing very well at this stage

[Gaina]

"So it is possible that the bird is dreaming about his song during the night."

1,2,3....awww!!!

I wonder what happens if you feed them cheese before bed? **evil grin**

Seriously, my friends' canary used to sing in his sleep just as he nodded off and just before waking - if humans dream during REM sleep I wonder if brids also dream during REM sleep?

[emf]

Originally Posted by Gaina

"I wonder what happens if you feed them cheese before bed? **evil grin**

Ahh, the cheese fueled dreams - I know them well!!!!

[Alan]

Well I dream about singing to birds when I'm in REM sleep........usually after cheese, if that helps