We thought subscribers to the Virginia Bird Listserv might find this article
interesting. The introduction explains: "While singing the same songs as your
neighbours may sound harmonious, research conducted at Queen's University
Biological Station (QUBS) suggests that song-sharing amongst song sparrow
populations is actually an aggressive behavior, akin to flinging insults back
and forth." The entire article can be found at:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110810133019.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fearth_climate%2Fecology+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Earth+%26+Climate+News+--+Ecology%29
Harry Glasgow
Friends of Huntley Meadows