Biology
The Ontogeny of Vocal Learning in Oscine Passerines
Quick fact
A young male zebra finch must hear a tutor's song during a sensitive window early in life, and then must hear its own attempts at singing, or it will never produce a normal song—showing that both memory and practice are essential for vocal learning.
Why this is interesting
You know how a baby learns to talk? Songbirds do something remarkably similar—following a step-by-step process that turns a fuzzy memory into a perfect, crystal-clear song.