Animals Compared to Humans: Random babbling leads chicks to the perfect tune

Researchers are finding out that birds use a different part of their brain when they babble than they do to sing.

Learning

When a toddler is learning to walk or talk, there is a lot of trial and error involved. But learning through experimentation is not unique to humans - in fact, birds do it too when they are learning to sing.

Researchers recently discovered that the part of the brain used by young zebra finches when they babble is different from the brain area used by adults when they belt out their more melodious songs. So while a baby bird is experimenting discordantly with its vocal range, it will eventually develop the brain pathway that will allow it to sing its heart out with great skill.