Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) Science Article 2
abstract
One hypothesis for the function of vocal repertoires in songbirds is that singing multiple song typesfacilitates song matching, a behaviour in which one male replies to a rival’s song with a song of the sametype. In eastern populations of song sparrows, low levels of whole song sharing restrict opportunities formatching of entire song types.
RINDY C. ANDERSON et al, ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR, 2005, 69, 189-196