A chorus song style influences sexual responses in female canaries

Abstract

We examined whether the playback of a chorus song style (i.e., two songs presented simultaneously from a single speaker) influences sexual song preferences of female domesticated canaries, Serinus canaria. Six females were treated with estradiol and their responses to the different types of song were measured as the frequency of copulation solicitation displays. Females responded preferentially to a chorus song style and reacted less to presentation of single songs (conspecific and heterospecific). These observations suggest that females sexual responses are elicited by two songs heard simultaneously. Our results are discussed in relation to current views on the song preferences of females and the phenomenon of chorus singing in songbirds.