More on Zebra Finches

This is not an ornithological blog, but the case of zebra finches and their songs keeps getting some notice.

• A study published by The Royal Society finds that zebra finches can distinguish between vowel sounds even when spoken by different individuals. It concludes that there is no need to look for some special evolved ability among humans to hear the difference. (Abstract) I would be happier with this study if it had used chimps or bonobos or something to reduce the possibility of convergent evolution.
• PNAS reports on experiments that experiments have showed zebra finches can learn to discriminate songs using recursive song patterns, suggesting a challenge to the claim that the Narrow Language Faculty rests on a uniquely human power of recursive thought. However, closer study found that although the birds are able to learn the abstract rules of recursive phonology , recursive syntax remains beyond them.. (Abstract)

We spend so much time looking for intelligent life in outer space, and claim to look forward to its discovery. But if we found that birds on earth really do chatter away amongst themselves, many people would go into spasms of denial.