Abstract
THE vocal organ, the syrinx, of some songbirds has been hypothesized to contain two sound sources that can be operated independently. The syrinx of songbirds (Oscines) is a bipartite structure1,2 whose two sides are potentially capable of acting either together or independently to produce sound3–9. Sound production is lateralized in some species such that one side produces most of the song9–11. I have now directly measured the acoustic output and motor dynamics of the left and right sides of the syrinx during song in catbirds and thrashers. In these birds, sound may be produced by either side of the syrinx alone, by both sides acting together, or by switching from side to side. When both sides of the syrinx contribute simultaneously to a note or syllable, both may generate the same sound or each side may produce a different sound. A given syllable type is generated by a similar motor pattern each time it is produced.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Gaunt, A. S. in Bird Respiration Vol. 1 (ed. Seller, T. J.) 71–94 (CRC, Boca Raton, Florida, 1987).
King, A. S. in Form and Function in Birds Vol. 4 (eds King, A. S. & McLelland, J.) 105–192 (Academic, New York, 1989).
Potter, R. K., Kopp, C. A. & Green, H. C. Visible Speech (Van Nostrand-Reinhold, Princeton, New Jersey, 1947).
Borror, D. J. & Reese, C. R. Ohio J. Sci. 56, 177–182 (1956).
Stein, R. C. Auk 85, 229–243 (1968).
Greenewalt, C. H. Bird Song: Acoustics and Physiology (Smithsonian Inst., Washington DC, 1968).
Nowicki, S. & Capranica, R. R. Science 231, 1297–1299 (1986).
Nowicki, S. & Capranica, R. R. J. Neurosci. 6, 3595–3610 (1986).
Nottebohm, F. J. exp. Zool. 177, 229–261 (1971).
Nottebohm, F. in Lateralization in the Nervous System (ed Harnad, S., Doty, R. W., Goldstein, L., Jaynes, J. & Krauthamer, G.) 23–44 (Academic, New York, 1977).
Arnold, A. P. & Bottjer, S. W. in Cerebral Lateralization in Nonhuman Species (ed. Glick, S. D.) 11–39 (Academic, New York, 1985).
Suthers, R. A. & Hector, D. H. J. comp. Physiol. A 156, 243–266 (1985).
Hartley, R. S. & Suthers, R. A. J. comp Physiol. A 165, 15–26 (1989).
Thompson, W. L. & Jane P. L. Jack-pine Warble 47, 115–125 (1969).
Boughey, M. J. & Thompson, N. S. Z. Tierpsychol. 56, 47–58 (1981).
Kroodsma, D. E. & Parker, L. D. Auk 94, 783–785 (1977).
Hartley, R. S. Resp. Physiol. (in the press).
Nowicki, S. Nature 325, 53–55 (1987).
Gaunt, A. S., Gaunt, S. L. & Casey, R. M. Auk 99, 474–494 (1982).
Casey, R. M. & Gaunt, A. S. J. theor. Biol. 116, 45–64 (1985).
Gaunt, A. S. & Gaunt, S. L. in Current Ornithology. Vol. 2 (ed. Johnston, R. F.) 213–245 (Plenum, New York, 1985).
Miskimen, M. Auk 68, 493–504 (1951).
Brackenbury, J. H. Resp. Physiol. 13, 319–329 (1971).
Konishi, M. A. Rev. Neurosci. 8, 125–170 (1985).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Suthers, R. Contributions to birdsong from the left and right sides of the intact syrinx. Nature 347, 473–477 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/347473a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/347473a0
This article is cited by
-
Syringeal vocal folds do not have a voice in zebra finch vocal development
Scientific Reports (2021)
-
Vocal and non-vocal behavior interact differently in territorial strategies of two sympatric Rallidae species
Journal of Ornithology (2021)
-
In situ vocal fold properties and pitch prediction by dynamic actuation of the songbird syrinx
Scientific Reports (2017)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.