Song in most oscine passetines is suspected to develop through imitative learning (Kroodsma 1982, Spector 1992). In the genus Dendroica, ithas been shown that both song and the context of its use are learned from adult tutors (Kroodsma et al. 1983, Spector 1992). The learning of heterospecific song may be constrained by many factors, including species-specific (genetic) auditory templates for learning (Marler1975), limitations of the vocal apparatus (Thorpe 1961), and behavioral and ecological aspects that may isolate birds during critical learning periods (e.g. Lanyon 1957). Despite these constraints, learning of heterospecific song has been observed in both the field and the laboratory, particularly in the subfamily Parulinae (see Spector 1992).

Model forest, canada, bird, Prairie Warbler