Global incidence of female birdsong is predicted by territoriality and biparental care in songbirds
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Other Title
Authors
Odom, K.J.
Araya-Salas, M.
Benedict, L.
Lim, K.
Dale, J.
Webb, Wesley
Sheard, C.
Tobias, J.A.
Ball, G.F.
Hall, M.L.
Langmore, M.E.
Webster, M.S.
Riebel, K.
Araya-Salas, M.
Benedict, L.
Lim, K.
Dale, J.
Webb, Wesley
Sheard, C.
Tobias, J.A.
Ball, G.F.
Hall, M.L.
Langmore, M.E.
Webster, M.S.
Riebel, K.
Author ORCID Profiles (clickable)
Degree
Grantor
Date
2025-07-21
Supervisors
Type
Journal Article
Ngā Upoko Tukutuku (Māori subject headings)
Keyword
birds
sexual dimorphism (animals)
birdsongs
sexual selection in animals
parental behavior in animals
animal communication
animal sound science
sexual dimorphism (animals)
birdsongs
sexual selection in animals
parental behavior in animals
animal communication
animal sound science
ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)
Citation
Odom, K. J., Araya Salas, M., Benedict, L., Lim, K., Dale, J., Webb, W. H., Sheard, C., Tobias, J. A., Ball, G. F., Hall, M. L., Langmore, N. E., Webster, M. S., & Riebel, K. (2025). Global incidence of female birdsong is predicted by territoriality and biparental care in songbirds. Nature Communications, 16, 6157 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60810-5
Abstract
Pronounced sexual dimorphism is generally assumed to evolve through sexual selection for elaborate male traits. However, there is increasing evidence that sexual dimorphism in traits such as birdsong may also evolve through loss of elaboration in females, but the evolutionary drivers underlying this process are obscure. Here we analyse ecological and natural history traits for over 1300 songbird species and show that increased female song incidence and elaboration are most directly associated with year-round territoriality, biparental care, and large body size. Phylogenetic path analysis indicates that mating system and breeding latitude primarily have indirect effects on female song evolution. Stable, tropical life histories and mating systems with biparental care promote female song, whereas evolutionary transitions to migration, reduced territoriality, and loss of male care led to losses or reductions of female song incidence. Our analyses provide a comprehensive framework for studying the drivers of sex differences and similarities in birdsong and reveal novel interactions among natural history and sexual selection pressures that have been hypothesized to independently shape elaborate traits.
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Permanent link
Link to ePress publication
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60810-5
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CC BY-NC-ND Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International