Song Sparrow: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Little Birds of the Americas · day 6 of 7

Five facts

1. Fans say one song often heard in the suburbs sounds a lot like the first four notes of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
2. One bird may know as many as 20 tunes with up to 1,000 made-up variations. It sings one tune many times before switching.
3. Song sparrows learn their songs mostly from neighbours. They can tell neighbours from strangers by song, and females know their own mate's song.
4. Experiments suggest it is born fearing owls and hawks, but has to learn that cats are dangerous.
5. Few birds vary so much. Scientists have named 52 song sparrow subspecies over the years, and 25 of them are still recognised today.

The quiz

1. Which famous music do fans say one song sparrow tune resembles?

• Mozart's Little Night Music
• The start of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony (correct)
• Happy Birthday
• Vivaldi's Four Seasons

It resembles the opening four notes of Beethoven's Fifth.

2. Up to how many different tunes can one song sparrow know?

• 2
• 5
• 20 (correct)
• 500

One bird may know as many as 20 different tunes.

3. Who do song sparrows mostly learn their songs from?

• Birds in neighbouring territories (correct)
• Thrushes
• Only from their mother
• No one: they are born knowing them

They learn songs from a handful of birds with neighbouring territories.

4. Which fear does a song sparrow have to learn?

• Fear of owls
• Fear of hawks
• Fear of rain
• Fear of cats (correct)

Fear of owls and hawks seems instinctive, but fear of cats is learned.

5. How many song sparrow subspecies are recognised today?

• 2
• 25 (correct)
• 5
• 100

Of 52 subspecies named, 25 are still recognised.

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