A CHORUS SONG STYLE INFLUENCES SEXUAL-RESPONSES IN FEMALE CANARIES

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