Bengalese finch

The Bengalese finch is a domesticated songbird derived from the white-rumped munia, Lonchura striata. Research papers often designate it Lonchura striata var. domestica. The name identifies a domesticated form, rather than by itself establishing a separate wild species. Its learned birdsong makes it useful for experiments on auditory feedback and behavioral change.^[ref]

In 2007, Evren C. Tumer and Michael S. Brainard tested whether small variations in otherwise stable adult birdsong could support learning. A computerized system monitored the pitch of selected song elements and disrupted auditory feedback for a selected subset of renditions. The birds shifted the targeted pitch to avoid the disruption, while other song features were relatively preserved. Delaying the feedback prevented the adaptive shift in the reported comparison.^[ref]

For an illustrative version of the logic, suppose feedback is disrupted only when one chosen song element falls below a preset pitch. Later singing above that threshold would reduce disruption. The key comparison is the distribution of that element before and after contingent feedback, together with appropriate feedback controls. A shift need not mean the bird acquired an entirely new song; it can reveal adjustment of one feature within a practiced behavior.