Inter- and Intrasexual Dimorphism in the Song and Song Control System of Duetting White-Browed Sparrow Weavers (English shop)

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The song of songbirds represents an attractive model for investigating neural mechanisms responsible for the emergence of sex differences in particular behaviours. The current view of the relationship between brain and behavioural differentiation in songbirds assumes that the extent of sex differences in the size of the song control nuclei correlates with the extent of sex differences in song behaviour. The present study was conducted in order to examine the neural basis of the song behaviour of males and females of the duetting white-browed sparrow weaver (Plocepasser mahali). This bird, a cooperatively breeding species, occurs in eastern and southern Africa, lives in groups of up to 10 individuals and displays a pronounced polymorphism with respect to song behaviour. Two song types can be distinguished: duet song (called chorus song if produced by more than two individuals) and solo song. While all group members are able to sing duet and chorus song, solo song is performed only by the dominant male of a group. This system makes it possible to carry out inter- and intrasexual comparisons of brain structure and behaviour.