NERDING OUT - BIRDSONG

How the twittering set learns to speak

- CHRISTOPHER BALAKRISHNAN

BIRDSONG HAS DELIGHTED humans and inspired musicians throughout history, and with about 10,000 avian species, we're treated to a great deal of variation. Many birds (like ducks and ostriches) are stuck with the relatively simple sounds they're born with. But the so-called songbirds (robins, cardinals, blue jays, etc.) learn sophisticated vocal skills-in ways that show surprising similarities to our own species. Read on!