Effects of deafening on the development of nestling and juvenile vocalizations in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus).
The effects of complete and partial cochlear extirpation at ages 9-11 days posthatch were assessed in 5 nestling budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) to determine if auditory feedback is necessary for the production of nestling vocalizations. Although early deafening had no effect on the production of food-begging calls produced during the first 2 weeks posthatch, deafening did disrupt the expected transition from these early calls to the longer and more complex frequency-modulated, patterned food-begging calls normally appearing 3-4 weeks posthatch. All birds sustaining either complete or partial cochlear extirpation failed to develop stereotyped contact calls around the time of fledging at 5 weeks. These results are consistent with previous research showing that deafened nestlings do not develop normal contact calls (R. J. Dooling, B. F. Gephart, P. H. Price, C. McHale, & S. E. Brauth, 1987) and also indicate that a form of sensorimotor learning is involved in the production of mature, patterned food-begging calls in budgerigars.
Heaton
J T
JT
Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park 20742-4411, USA.
Brauth
S E
SE
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D003638:Deafness / Q000523:psychology*; D009425:Nesting Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D010311:Parrots / Q000502:physiology*; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000502:physiology*