biostudies-literatureUnknown16Magdaleno FRThe study of non-human animals that are vocal learning, which is the ability to alter the structure of vocalizations, has provided important insights into our understanding of the evolution and development of vocal communication and language. Of particular interest is vocal convergence where individuals learn the vocalizations shared by their social group. Although the development of shared vocalizations has received extensive study across vocal learning species, less attention has been given to the use of these learned signals, especially whether individuals stress the expression of vocalizations that signal high status and deemphasize those that do not. Previous field and captivity studies of Brown-headed Cowbirds (<i>Molothrus ater</i>) show that males 2 years old or older have greater Frontiers in psychology1567261https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12457672biostudies-literatureBirds of a song sing together: adaptive choices in the use of shared vocalizations that indicate age.PMC12457672Zaratzian DO'Loghlen ALJessum ARPaladini-Colon GMagdaleno FRRothstein SIfalseBirds of a song sing together: adaptive choices in the use of shared vocalizations that indicate age.The study of non-human animals that are vocal learning, which is the ability to alter the structure of vocalizations, has provided important insights into our understanding of the evolution and development of vocal communication and language. Of particular interest is vocal convergence where individuals learn the vocalizations shared by their social group. Although the development of shared vocalizations has received extensive study across vocal learning species, less attention has been given to the use of these learned signals, especially whether individuals stress the expression of vocalizations that signal high status and deemphasize those that do not. Previous field and captivity studies of Brown-headed Cowbirds (<i>Molothrus ater</i>) show that males 2 years old or older have greater 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z20252026-05-31T03:13:06.457Z2026-05-31T03:07:38.481ZS-EPMC124576724100051710.3389/fpsyg.2025.1567261