The voices of birds have always been a source of fascination. Natures Music brings together some of the worlds experts on birdsong, to review the advances that have taken place in our understanding of how and why birds sing, what their songs and calls mean, and how they have evolved. All contributors have strived to speak, not only to fellow experts, but also to the general reader. The result is a book of readable science, richly illustrated with recordings and pictures of the sounds of birds. <BR>Bird song is much more than just one behaviour of a single, particular group of organisms. It is a model for the study of a wide variety of animal behaviour systems, ecological, evolutionary and neurobiological. Bird song sits at the intersection of breeding, social and cognitive behaviour and ecology. As such interest in this book will extend far beyond the purely ornithological - to behavioural ecologists psychologists and neurobiologists of all kinds. <BR>* The scoop on local dialects in birdsong<BR>* How birdsongs are used for fighting and flirting<BR>* The writers are all international authorities on their subject

"The volume is a landmark for birdsong research...This book delivers."

-Jack Dumbacher for CALIFORNIA WILD (2005)

"...a remarkable book in many ways...The quality of figures is excellent...this book is a labor of love."

- Fernando Nottebohm, Field Research Center, Rockefeller University in NATURE MAGAZINE (2005)

"...a remarkable book in many ways...The quality of figures is excellent...this book is a labor of love."

- Fernando Nottebohm, Field Research Center, Rockefeller University in NATURE MAGAZINE (2005)

ersity in NATURE MAGAZINE (2005)

book is a labor of love."

- Fernando Nottebohm, Field Research Center, Rockefeller University in NATURE MAGAZINE (2005)

"...a unique item...the comprehensive text and enjoyable CDs make this item a valuable addition to relevant collections."

- Beth Thomsett-Scott, University of North Texas Science and Technology Library, in E-STREAMS

"The volume is a landmark for birdsong research...This book delivers."

-Jack Dumbacher for CALIFORNIA WILD (2005)

"...a remarkable book in many ways...The quality of figures is excellent...this book is a labor of love."

- Fernando Nottebohm, Field Research Center, Rockefeller University in NATURE MAGAZINE (2005)

Science and birdsong: the good old days

Vocal fighting and flirting: the functions of birdsong

Learning to sing

The diversity and plasticity of birdsong

Bird calls: a cornucopia for communication

Singing in the wild: the ecology of birdsong

Audition: can birds hear everything they sing?

Brains and birdsong

How birds sing and why it matters

Birdsong and evolution

Performance limits on birdsong

Birdsong and conservation

Grey parrots: learning and using speech

Singing, socializing, and the music effect