Michael
D. Beecher
updated 7 September 2015
Michael
Beecher Melospiza
melodia Mt Rainier viewed from UW campus
Professor of Psychology & Biology
Department of Psychology
University of Washington
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Seattle, Washington 98195
Revenge of the song
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(email: beecher@u.washington.edu) mdb cv Lab
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Current Research:
My
laboratory is studying the function and the development of bird song. Our study
species is the song sparrow (Melospiza
melodia). Although we have worked in both the lab and the field, our
present research is entirely in the field.
The
use of elaborate acoustic vocalizations (song) for communication is common in
a wide variety of animal groups. In the oscine passerines (songbirds), song has
an additional, intriguing aspect: it is learned, with much of that learning
occurring very early in life. Song learning in songbirds has been extensively
analyzed in the laboratory and has become a major model system for studying the
neurobiology of learning. Its value as a model system is enhanced by its many
parallels with human language learning. These parallels include an early
sensitive period, a perceptual filtering mechanism tuned to species
communication signals, a crucial role for auditory feedback in normal
development, a separation between sensory and motor learning, and an early
subsong or babbling stage. Work on the neural basis of song perception and
production in songbirds has revealed additional parallels between the neural
centers for song in birds and those for language in humans. In this context,
understanding the normal course of song development in songbirds becomes
crucial if this model system is going to provide general insights into the
development of vocal communication systems in general and human language in
particular.
Despite
the great interest in bird song learning, our understanding of normal bird song
development remains surprisingly incomplete. One reason this is so is because
most studies of song learning to date have been laboratory experiments from
which essentially all social features have been removed. Recent research has
suggested, however, that social factors may be the key to understanding song
learning. Our primary interest now is in the role of social factors in song
learning.
Publications: These are grouped below according as follows:
(1) our research since 1988 on song learning, function and
perception in song sparrows;
(2) our earlier comparative work on individual
identification and recognition in swallows;
(4) assorted other papers not fitting into these
categories.
[Note: Underlined titles are linked to a
Word or PDF file if unpublished or pre-proofs, to PDF file if in proofs or
published. PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader. The published papers have
been published in the journal indicated, which is the only definitive
repository of the content that has been certified and accepted after peer
review. Copyright and all rights therein are retained by the publisher. This
material is for individual use only and may not be copied or re-posted without
explicit permission.]
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(1) Song learning, song perception and song function in song
sparrows (1988 to present)
Akçay, Ç, McCune, K., Campbell, S. E.
& Beecher, M. D. (in prep.)
Competition not cooperation drives song learning in song sparrows.
Akçay, Ç, Campbell, S. E. &
Beecher, M. D. (in review) Aggressiveness,
reliable signaling and survival in a wild songbird.
Beecher, M. D. (in press).
Communication, information & language. In Handbook of Comparative Psychology, American Psychological
Association.
Akçay, Ç. & Beecher, M. D. (2015) Team of
rivals in chipping sparrows? A comment on Goodwin & Podos. Biology Letters 11, 20141043.
Akçay, Ç., Anderson, R., Nowicki, S.
Beecher, M. D & Searcy, W. A. (2015) Quiet
threats: soft song as an aggressive signal in birds. Animal Behaviour 105, 267-274.
Akçay, Ç, Reed, V. A., Campbell, S. E.
& Beecher, M. D. (2014) Song sparrows do
not learn more songs from aggressive tutors. Animal
Behaviour, 94, 151-159.
Searcy, W. A., Akçay, Ç., Nowicki, S.
& Beecher, M. D. (2014) Aggressive
signaling in song sparrows and other songbirds. Advances in the Study of Behavior, 46. 89-125.
Akçay, Ç, Campbell, S. E. & Beecher,
M. D. (2014) Individual
differences affect honest signalling in a songbird. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B., 281, 20132496
Beecher, M. D. & Akçay, Ç. (2014) Friends
and enemies: how social dynamics shape communication and song learning in song
sparrows. In Yasukawa, K. (editor) Animal
Behavior, Volume 3, pp. 33-61, Preager: Santa Barbara, CA.
Akçay, Ç., Tom, M., Campbell, S. E.
& Beecher, M. D. (2013) Song
type matching is an honest early threat signal in a hierarchical animal
communication system. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London,
Series B., 280, 20122517.
Templeton, C. N., Akçay, Ç., Campbell,
S. E. & Beecher, M. D. (2012) Soft
song is a reliable signal of aggressive intent in song sparrows. Behavioral
Ecology & Sociobiology, 66, 15031509.
Templeton, C. N., Campbell, S. E.
& Beecher, M. D. (2012) Territorial song
sparrows tolerate juveniles during the early song-learning phase. Behavioral Ecology, 23, 916-923.
Templeton, C. N., Burt, J.M.,
Campbell. S. E., Lent, K., Brenowitz, E. A. & Beecher, M. D. (2012) Immediate
and long-term effects of testosterone on song plasticity and learning in
juvenile song sparrows. Behavioural
Processes, 90, 254-260.
Akçay, Ç. & Beecher, M. D. (2012) Signalling
while fighting: further comments on soft song. Animal Behaviour. 83, e1-e3.
Akçay, Ç, Searcy, W. A., Reed, V. A.,
Templeton, C. N., Campbell, S. E. & Beecher, M. D. (2012) Who
initiates extra-pair mating in song sparrows? Behavioral
Ecology, 23, 44-50.
Templeton, C. N., Reed, V. A.,, Campbell.
S. E. & Beecher, M. D. (2012) Spatial
movements and social networks in juvenile male song sparrows. Behavioral Ecology, 23, 141-152.
Akçay, Ç, Tom, M., Holmes, D.,
Campbell, S. E. & Beecher, M. D. (2011) Sing
softly and carry a big stick: soft song as an aggressive signal in song
sparrows. Animal Behaviour, 82,
377-382.
Searcy, W. A. & Beecher, M. D.
(2011) Continued
scepticism that song overlapping is a signal. Animal Behaviour, 81, e1-e4.
Hill, C. E., Akçay, C., Campbell, S.
E. & Beecher, M. D. (2011) Extra-pair
paternity, song and genetic quality in song sparrows. Behavioral Ecology, 22, 73-81.
Akçay, Ç, Reed, V. A., Campbell, S. E.
& Beecher, M. D. (2010) Indirect
reciprocity in territorial defence by song sparrows. Animal Behaviour, 80,
1041-1047.
Nulty, B., Burt, J. M., Akçay, Ç.,
Templeton, C. N., Campbell, S. E. & Beecher, M. D. (2010) Song
learning in song sparrows: Relative importance of autumn vs. spring tutoring.
Ethology, 116, 653-661.
Beecher, M. D. (2010). Birdsong and
vocal learning during development. In Koob, G. F., Le Moal, M. &
Thompson, R. F. (editors) Encyclopedia of
Neuroscience, Volume 1, 164-168.
Templeton, C. N., Akçay, Ç., Campbell,
S. E. & Beecher, M. D. (2009) Juvenile
sparrows preferentially eavesdrop on adult song interactions. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London,
Series B. 277, 447-453.
Searcy, W. A. & Beecher, M. D.
(2009) Song
as an aggressive signal in songbirds. Animal
Behaviour,78, 1281-1292.
Akçay, C., Wood, W. E., Searcy, W. A., Templeton, C. N., Campbell, S. E. & Beecher, M. D. (2009) Good neighbour, bad neighbour: Song sparrows retaliate against aggressive rivals. Animal Behaviour, 78, 97-102.
Beecher, M. D. (2008) Function
and mechanisms of song learning in song sparrows. Advances in the Study of Behavior, 38, 167-225.
Burt, J. M. & Beecher, M. D.
(2008) The
social interaction role of song in song sparrows: implications for signal
design. Comparative Cognition &
Behavior Reviews, 3, 86-98.
Beecher, M. D. & Burt, J. M.
(2008) More on the cognitive ecology of song communication and song learning in
the song sparrow. In R. Dukas & J. Ratcliffe (eds.), Cognitive Ecology II, pp. 49-70, Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press.
Beecher, M. D., Burt, J. M.,
OLoghlen, A. L., Templeton, C. N. & Campbell, S. E. (2007) Bird song learning in
an eavesdropping context. Animal
Behaviour, 73, 929-935.
Burt, J. M., OLoghlen, A. L.,
Templeton, C. N., Campbell, S. E. & Beecher, M. D., (2007) Assessing the
importance of social factors in bird song learning: A test using
computer-simulated tutors. Ethology,
113, 917-925.
Nordby, J. C., Campbell, S. E. & Beecher
M. D. (2007) Selective
attrition and individual song repertoire development in song sparrows. Animal Behaviour, 74, 1413-1418.
Beecher, M. D. & Brenowitz, E. A.
(2005) Functional
aspects of song learning in birds. Trends
in Ecology & Evolution, 20, 143-149.
Brenowitz, E. A. & Beecher, M. D.
(2005) Song
learning in birds: Diversity and plasticity, opportunities and challenges. Trends in Neuroscience, 28, 127-132.
Beecher, M. D. & Campbell, S. E.
(2005) The
role of unshared songs in singing interactions between neighbouring song
sparrows. Animal Behaviour, 70,
1297-1304.
Beecher, M. D. & Burt, J. M.
(2004) The
role of social interaction in bird song learning. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 13, 224-228.
Reeves, B. J., Brenowitz, E. A. & Beecher, M. D. (2003) Seasonal changes in avian song control circuits do not cause seasonal changes in song discrimination in song sparrows. Journal of Neurobiology, 57, 119-129.
Nordby, J. C., Campbell, S. E. &
Beecher M. D. (2002) Adult song sparrows
do not alter their song repertoires. Ethology,
108, 39-50.
Burt, J. M., Bard, S. C., Campbell, S.
E. & Beecher, M. D. (2002) Alternative forms of
song matching in song sparrows. Animal
Behaviour, 63, 1143-1151.
Nordby, J. C., Campbell, S. E. &
Beecher M. D. (2001) Late song learning in
song sparrows. Animal Behaviour,
61, 835-846.
Burt, J. M., Campbell, S. E. &
Beecher, M. D. (2001) Song type matching as
threat: a test using interactive playback. Animal Behaviour, 62, 1163-1170.
Beecher M. D., Campbell, S. E., Burt, J.
M., Hill, C. E. & Nordby, J. C. (2000). Song-type matching
between neighbouring song sparrows. Animal
Behaviour, 59, 21-27.
Beecher, M. D., Campbell, S. E. &
Nordby J. C. (2000). Territory tenure in
song sparrows is related to song sharing with neighbors, but not to repertoire
size. Animal Behaviour, 59,
29-37.
Nordby, J. C., Campbell, S. E., Burt, J. M. & Beecher M. D. (2000) Social influences during song development in the song sparrow: a laboratory experiment simulating field conditions. Animal Behaviour, 59, 1187-1197.
Peters, S., Searcy, W. A., Beecher, M.
D. & Nowicki, S. (2000) Geographic variation in the organization of song
sparrow repertoires. Auk, 117,
936-942.
Nordby J. C. , Campbell, S. E &
Beecher, M. D. (1999). Ecological correlates
of song learning in song sparrows. Behavioral
Ecology, 10, 287-297.
O'Loghlen, A. L.
& Beecher, M. D. (1999). Mate,
neighbour and stranger songs: a female song sparrow perspective. Animal Behaviour, 58, 13-20.
Hill, C. E., Campbell, S. E., Nordby,
J. C., Burt, J. M. & Beecher, M. D. (1999). Song sharing in
two populations of song sparrows. Behavioral
Ecology & Sociobiology, 46, 341-349.
Beecher, M. D., Campbell, S. E. &
Nordby J. C. (1998). The cognitive ecology of song communication and song
learning in the song sparrow. In R. Dukas (Ed.), Cognitive Ecology, pp. 175-199, Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press.
O'Loghlen, A. L.
& Beecher, M. D. (1997). Sexual
preferences for mate song types in female song sparrows. Animal Behaviour, 53, 835-841.
Smith, G. T., Brenowitz, E. A.,
Beecher, M. D. & Wingfield, J. C. (1997). Seasonal changes in testosterone,
neural attributes of song control nuclei, and song structure in wild songbirds.
Journal of Neuroscience, 17,
6001-6010.
Beecher, M. D., Nordby J. C.,
Campbell, S. E, Burt, J. M., Hill, C. E. & O'Loghlen, A. O. (1997). What is
the function of song learning in songbirds? In Owings, D. H., Beecher, M. D.
& Thompson, N. S. (Eds.), Perspectives
in Ethology, Vol. 12: Communication, pp. 77-97, New York: Plenum Press.
Beecher, M. D., Stoddard, P. K., Campbell, S. E., & Horning,
C. L. (1996). Repertoire
matching between neighbouring song sparrows. Animal Behaviour, 51, 917-923.
Beecher, M. D. (1996). Bird song
learning in the laboratory and the field. In D. E. Kroodsma & E. L. Miller
(Eds.), Ecology and Evolution of Acoustic
Communication in Birds, pp. 61-78, Ithaca, NY: Cornell.
Beecher, M. D., Campbell, S. E. & Stoddard, P. K. (1994). Correlation of song
learning and territory establishment strategies in the song sparrow. Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences, 91, 1450-1454.
Beecher, M. D., Campbell, S. E. & Burt, J. (1994). Song perception in
the song sparrow: Birds classify by song type but not by singer. Animal Behaviour, 47, 1343-1351.
Horning, C. L, Beecher, M. D., Stoddard, P. K. & Campbell, S.
E. (1993). Song perception in the song sparrow: Importance of different parts
of the song in song type classification. Ethology,
94, 46-58.
Stoddard, P. K., Beecher, M. D., Horning, C. H. & Campbell, S.
E. (1992). Song type matching in the song sparrow. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 70, 1440-1444.
Stoddard, P. K., Beecher, M. D., Loesche, P. & Campbell, S. E.
(1992). Memory
does not constrain individual recognition in a bird with song repertoires. Behaviour, 122, 274-287.
Stoddard, P. K., Beecher, M. D., Horning, C. H. & Campbell, S.
E. (1991) Recognition
of individual neighbors by song in the song sparrow, a bird with song
repertoires. Behavioral Ecology and
Sociobiology, 29, 211-215.
Beecher, M. D. & Stoddard, P. K. (1990). The role of bird song
and calls in individual recognition: Contrasting field and laboratory perspectives.
In Berkley, M. & Stebbins, W. C. (Eds.), Comparative Perception Vol. II: Complex Signals, pp. 375-408, New
York: Wiley.
Stoddard, P. K., Beecher, M. D., Horning, C. H. & Willis, M. S.
(1990). Strong neighbor-stranger discrimination in song sparrows. Condor, 97, 1051-1056.
Stoddard, P. K., Beecher, M. D. & Willis, M. S. (1988).
Response of territorial male song sparrows to song types and variations. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 22,
125-130.
2. Individual
identification and recognition in swallows
Beecher, M. D., Beecher, I. M., & Lumpkin,
S. (1981). Parent-offspring
recognition in bank swallows (Riparia
riparia): I. Natural history. Animal
Behaviour, 29, 86-94.
Beecher, M. D., Beecher, I. M., & Hahn, S.
(1981). Parent-offspring
recognition in bank swallows (Riparia
riparia): II. Acoustic basis. Animal
Behaviour, 29, 95-101.
Beecher, M. D. (1981). Development of
parent-offspring recognition in birds. In Aslin, R., Alberts, J., &
Petersen, M. R. (Eds.), Development of
Perception, Academic, pp. 45-61.
Beecher, M. D. (1982). Signature systems and
kin recognition. American Zoologist,
22, 477-490.
Beecher, I. M. & Beecher, M. D. (1983).
Sibling recognition in bank swallows. Zeitschrift
fur Tierpsychologie (Ethology), 62
, 145-150.
Stoddard, P. K. & Beecher, M. D. (1983). Parental
recognition of offspring in the Cliff Swallow. Auk, 100, 795-799.
Beecher, M. D., Stoddard, P. K., &
Loesche, P. (1985). Recognition
of parents' voices by young cliff swallows. Auk, 102, 600-605.
Medvin, M. B., & Beecher, M. D. (1986). Parent-offspring
recognition in the barn swallow. Animal
Behaviour, 34, 1627-1639.
Beecher, M. D., Medvin, M. B., Stoddard, P.
K., & Loesche, P. (1986). Acoustic adaptations for parent-offspring
recognition in swallows. Experimental Biology, 45, 179-193.
Beecher, M. D. (1988). Kin recognition
in birds. Behavior Genetics, 18, 465-482.
Beecher, M. D. (1989). Signaling
systems for individual recognition: an information theory approach. Animal Behaviour, 38, 248-261.
Beecher, M. D., Loesche, P., Stoddard, P. K.
& Medvin, M. B. (1989). Individual
recognition by voice in swallows: signal or perceptual adaptation? In Dooling,
R. J. & Hulse, S. H. (Eds.), The
Comparative Psychology of Audition: Perceiving Complex Sounds, Erlbaum.
Beecher, M. D. (1989). Evolution
of parent-offspring recognition in swallows. In D. A. Dewsbury (Ed.), Contemporary issues in Comparative
Psychology, pp. 360-380, Sunderland, Mass.: Sinauer.
Beecher, M. D. & Stoddard, P. K. (1990). The role of
bird song and calls in individual recognition: Contrasting field and laboratory
perspectives. In Berkley, M. & Stebbins, W. C. (Eds.), Comparative Perception--Vol. II: Complex
Signals, pp. 375-408, New York: Wiley.
Beecher, M. D. (1991). Successes and failures
of parent-offspring recognition systems in animals. In P. G. Hepper (Ed.), Kin Recognition, pp. 94-124, Cambridge
University Press.
Loesche, P., *Stoddard, P. K., Higgins, B. J.
& Beecher, M. D. (1991). Signature vs. perceptual
adaptations for individual vocal recognition in swallows. Behaviour, 118, 15-25.
Medvin, M. B., Stoddard, P. K. & Beecher,
M. D. (1992). Signals for
parent-offspring recognition: Strong sib-sib call similarity in cliff swallows
but not barn swallows. Ethology,
90, 17-28.
Loesche, P., Beecher, M. D. & Stoddard, P.
K. (1992). Perception of cliff swallow calls by birds and humans. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 106,
239-247.
3. Auditory perception
and perception of species vocal communication signals in primates
Beecher, M. D. (1974). Pure-tone thresholds of
the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus).
Journal of the Acoustical Society of
America, 33, 196-198.
Beecher, M. D. (1974). Hearing in the owl
monkey (Aotus trivirgatus): Auditory
sensitivity. Journal of Comparative and
Physiological Psychology, 86,
898-901.
Beecher, M. D. (1976). Studies on the hearing
of the owl monkey (Aotus trivirgatus). In N. King & A. Jones (Eds.), Symposium
on the Owl Monkey, Laboratory Animal
Science, 26, 1068-1072.
Moody, D. B., Beecher, M. D. & Stebbins,
W. C. (1976). Behavioral methods in auditory research. In D. Smith & J.
Vernon (Eds.), Handbook of Auditory
Research, Charles C. Thomas: Springfield, Ill.
Sinnott, J. M., Beecher, M. D., Moody, D. B.
& Stebbins, W. C. (1976). Speech sound discrimination by monkeys and
humans. Journal of the Acoustical Society
of America, 60, 687-695.
Brown, C. H., Beecher, M. D., Moody, D. B., &
Stebbins, W. C. (1978). Localization of pure tones by Old World monkeys. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America,
63, 1484-1492.
Brown, C. H., Beecher, M. D., Moody, D. B.,
& Stebbins, W. C. (1978). Localization of primate calls by Old World
monkeys. Science, 201, 753-754.
Petersen, M. R., Beecher, M. D., Zoloth, S.
R., Moody, D. B., & Stebbins, W. C. (1978). Neural lateralization of
species-specific vocalizations by Japanese macaques. Science, 202, 324-327.
Beecher, M. D., Petersen, M. R., Zoloth, S.
R., Moody, D. B., & Stebbins, W. C. (1979). Perception
of conspecific vocalizations by Japanese macaques: Evidence for selective
attention and neural lateralization. Brain,
Behavior & Evolution, 16,
443-460.
Brown, C. H., Beecher, M. D., Moody, D. B.,
& Stebbins, W. C. (1979). Locatability of vocal signals in Old World
monkeys: Design features for the communication of position. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology,
93, 806-819.
Zoloth, S. R., Petersen, M. R., Beecher, M.
D., Green, S., Marler, P., Moody, D. B., & Stebbins, W. C. (1979).
Species-specific processing of vocal sounds by monkeys. Science, 204, 870-873.
Brown, C. H., Beecher, M. D., Moody, D. B.,
& Stebbins, W. C. (1980). Localization of noise bands by Old World monkeys.
Journal of the Acoustical Society of
America, 68, 127-132.
Petersen, M. R., Beecher, M. D., Zoloth, S.
R., Green, S., Marler, P., Moody, D. B., & Stebbins, W. C. (1984). Neural
lateralization of vocalizations by Japanese macaques: Communicative
significance is more important than acoustic structure. Behavioral Neuroscience, 98, 779-790.
Beecher, M. D.
(1971). Operant conditioning in the bat Phyllostomus
hastatus. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 16, 219-223.
Beecher, M. D. &
Jackson, D. E. (1976). Rate-dependent effect of amphetamine: Extension to
between-subjects effect. Psychopharmacologica,
46, 307-309.
Beecher, M. D. &
Beecher, I. M. (1979). Sociobiology
of bank swallows: Reproductive strategy of the male. Science, 205, 1282-1285.
Medvin, M. B., Beecher, M. D. & Andelman,
S. A. (1987). Extra adults at the nest in barn swallows. Condor, 89, 179-182.
Beecher, M. D. (1988). The
adaptationist approach to learning. In Bolles, R. C. & Beecher, M. D.
(Eds.) , Evolution and Learning,
Erlbaum.
Bolles, R. C. & Beecher, M. D.
(1988). Evolution and Learning,
Erlbaum.
Beecher, M. D. (1988). Spectrographic
analysis of bird vocalizations: Implications of the uncertainty principle. Bioacoustics, 1, 187-208.
Schwagmeyer, P. L., Mock, D. W.,
Lamey, T. C., Lamey, C. S. & Beecher, M. D. (1991). Effects of sibling
conflict on hatch timing in an asynchronously hatching bird. Animal Behaviour, 41, 887-894.
Owings, D. H., Beecher, M. D. &
Thompson, N. S. (Eds.) (1997). Perspectives
in Ethology, Vol. 12: Communication. New York: Plenum Press.
Marean, G. C., Burt, J., Beecher, M. D. & Rubel, E. W. (1993).
Hair cell regeneration in the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris): Recovery of
pure-tone detection threshold. Hearing
Research, 71, 125-136.
Marean, G. C., Cunningham, D., Burt,
J., Beecher, M. D. & Rubel, E. W (1995). Regenerated hair cells in the
European starling: Are they more resistant to kanamycin ototoxicity than
original hair cells? Hearing Research,
82, 267-276.
Marean, G. C., Burt, J., Beecher, M.
D. & Rubel, E. W. (1998). Auditory perception following hair cell
regeneration in the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris): Frequency and
temporal resolution. Journal of the
Acoustical Society of America, 103, 3567-3580.
Burt, J. M., Lent, K. L, Beecher, M.
D. & Brenowitz, E. A. (2000). Lesions of avian song nucleus lMAN in female
canaries affect song perception in an operant task. Journal of Neurobiology, 42, 1-13.
undergraduate
courses in animal behavior