Seasonal changes in song nuclei and song behavior in Gambel's white-crowned sparrows

Abstract

In males of several songbird species, the morphology of forebrain nuclei that control song changes seasonally. The only seasonally breeding songbird in which seasonal changes in the structure of song control nuclei have been reported not to occur is the nonmigratory Nuttall's subspecies of white-crowned sparrow. In the present study, we manipulated photoperiod and plasma testosterone concentrations in captive male white-crowned sparrows of the migratory Gambel's subspecies. Males exposed to photoperiods and plasma testosterone concentrations typical of those experienced by wild breeding males had larger song control nuclei than males held on a winter photoperiod. We also found seasonal changes in stereotype of spectral and temporal parameters of song in wild Gambel's white-crowned sparrows. We hypothesize that seasonal changes in the song control nuclei may correlate with seasonal changes in song stereotypy.