Global incidence of female birdsong is predicted by territoriality and biparental care in songbirds

Karan J. Odom (), Marcelo Araya-Salas, Lauryn Benedict, Kristi Lim, James Dale, Wesley H. Webb, Catherine Sheard, Joseph A. Tobias, Gregory F. Ball, Michelle L. Hall, Naomi E. Langmore, Michael S. Webster and Katharina Riebel
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Karan J. Odom: University of the Pacific
Marcelo Araya-Salas: Universidad de Costa Rica
Lauryn Benedict: University of Northern Colorado
Kristi Lim: Cornell University
James Dale: Massey University
Wesley H. Webb: School of Environmental and Animal Sciences
Catherine Sheard: University of Aberdeen
Joseph A. Tobias: Silwood Park
Gregory F. Ball: College Park
Michelle L. Hall: The University of Melbourne
Naomi E. Langmore: Australian National University
Michael S. Webster: Cornell University
Katharina Riebel: Leiden University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Pronounced sexual dimorphism is generally assumed to evolve through sexual selection for elaborate male traits. However, there is increasing evidence that sexual dimorphism in traits such as birdsong may also evolve through loss of elaboration in females, but the evolutionary drivers underlying this process are obscure. Here we analyse ecological and natural history traits for over 1300 songbird species and show that increased female song incidence and elaboration are most directly associated with year-round territoriality, biparental care, and large body size. Phylogenetic path analysis indicates that mating system and breeding latitude primarily have indirect effects on female song evolution. Stable, tropical life histories and mating systems with biparental care promote female song, whereas evolutionary transitions to migration, reduced territoriality, and loss of male care led to losses or reductions of female song incidence. Our analyses provide a comprehensive framework for studying the drivers of sex differences and similarities in birdsong and reveal novel interactions among natural history and sexual selection pressures that have been hypothesized to independently shape elaborate traits.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60810-5

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