That Bird Blog » Bird Learning

Canaries Are Endowed With Unique Song-Learning Abilities

findiviglio — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:00:54 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Male canaries (Serinus canaria), long prized for their beautiful songs, may have unique learning abilities that explain their outstanding performances. Most birds acquire singing abilities by listening to others of their kind early in life…without appropriate role models, they fail to develop normal songs. Young canaries, however, seem able to switch [...]

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Canaries Are Endowed With Unique Song-Learning Abilities

Research Update: Both Learning and Genes Contribute to the Zebra Finch’s Song

findiviglio — Wed, 13 May 2009 19:14:32 +0000

Research conducted at New York's Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (Nature: May, 2009) has, for the first time, illustrated the complex interplay of genetics, learning and social situation in the acquisition of birdsong. Learning What Song to Sing As is true for all birds studied, zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) raised in isolation from others of their kind fail [...]

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Research Update: Both Learning and Genes Contribute to the Zebra Finch’s Song

Taming and Training Canaries and Other Finches, Part 2

findiviglio — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:10:56 +0000

See Part 1 of this article: Taming and Training Canaries and Other Finches, Part I Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Last time we discussed some finch training basics…getting your pet to calm down when near people and out of its cage. Please see Part I of this article for further details. Returning to the Cage As mentioned in Part I [...]

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Taming and Training Canaries and Other Finches, Part 2

Taming and Training Canaries and Other Finches, Part I

findiviglio — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:15:33 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. When we think of tame birds, it is most often the parrots and mynas that come to mind. Canaries and other finches, on the other hand, are largely thought of as pets to enjoy for their bright colors, active ways and cheerful songs. To a great extent, these perceptions hold true…but not [...]

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Taming and Training Canaries and Other Finches, Part I

Self Recognition and Impulse Control in Birds

findiviglio — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:13:00 +0000

Research this month (June, 2008) at Japan’s Keio University has proven what pet keepers have long known – that birds possess much more intelligence than they are given credit for. The work showed that pigeons have a well developed sense of “self”, and can distinguish their own images from those of another pigeon after a delay [...]

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Self Recognition and Impulse Control in Birds

European Starlings, Sturnus vulgaris, Can Determine When People are Watching – and React Accordingly

findiviglio — Mon, 19 May 2008 18:03:00 +0000

Researchers at the University of Bristol determined this month (May, 2008) that starlings and other birds moved away from feeders if watched by people, but continued feeding if the observers remained just as close to the feeders, but turned their eyes away. Interesting….but I think bird keepers have known this to be true for quite some [...]

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European Starlings, Sturnus vulgaris, Can Determine When People are Watching – and React Accordingly