ABSTRACT
Most of what we know about vocal learning in birds comes from studies of oscine songbirds with much less knozon about vocal learning in non songbirds such as parrots. Here, we describe a series of studies on vocal learning, vocal development and auditory and visual perception in the domesticated budgerigar or parakeet (Melopsittacus undulatus). Call learning in these birds occurs in both males and females, continues throughout adulthood, and involves specialized auditory and visual processes. Compared with many songbirds, the constraints on vocal learning in this species appear to be quite broad with social factors playing a crucial role. Budgerigars are an especially tractable laboratory subjects in such that they can be readily trained with operant conditioning techniques to modify the characteristics of their vocal signals. This opens up a nezv approach to the study of sensory and motor interactions in vocal learning and development.
