Field studies of habituation: IV. Sensitization as a function of the distribution and novelty of song playback to white-crowned sparrows.

Abstract

Recorded song was played in the field to mated pairs of white-crowned sparrows that were in breeding condition and an extensive sample of the behaviors elicited was recorded. An attempt was made to manipulate the level of responding and the amount of habituation by varying the pattern of song presentations and the novelty of the songs. No differences in rates of habituation were obtained but the attempt to manipulate levels of responding was successful. For the males, greater spacing of the playback trials resulted in lower response levels; changing the song type on each trial resulted in higher response levels. The results are discussed in terms of their meaning for habituation theory and their possible significance to the economy of the birds adjusting to their environment.