Journals Higher Education



15 June 2006

272 Pages

5-5/16 x 8 inches

ISBN: 9780195309010

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Bookseller Code (01)


A Natural History

Don Stap

Following a world expert on birdsong from the woods of Martha's Vineyard to the tropical forests of Central America, Don Stap brings to life the quest to unravel this ancient mystery: Why do birds sing and what do their songs really mean? In this creative mixture of reportage, storytelling, and research, Stap distills the complexities of the study of birdsong and unveils a remarkable discovery that sheds light on the mystery of mysteries: why young birds in the suborder oscines-the "true" songbirds--must learn their songs while closely related birds are born with their songs genetically encoded.


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