Zebra finch males prefer females with exaggerated maternal traits

Zebra finch males prefer females with exaggerated maternal traits: "The outcome of the study shows that the skewed mating preferences ... may result directly from sexual imprinting."

Groups and grumps: Study identifies 'sociality' neurons

Groups and grumps: Study identifies 'sociality' neurons: "A University of California, San Diego study has for the first time identified brain cells that influence whether birds of a feather will, or will not, flock together."

Effects of nutrition on learning

Effects of nutrition on learning: "Poor nutrition early in life can impair neural development, leading to lower IQ in humans and flawed song learning in birds. "

GSC: Taeniopygia guttata

Genome Sequencing Center: Taeniopygia guttata: "Studies on the zebra finch have made substantial contributions to the understanding of the neural basis of learning, adult neurogenesis, sexual differentiation of the brain, hormone synthesis and action on the brain, complex auditory processing, sensory-motor integration, and in other areas.
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The zebra finch genome, as the second bird genome to be sequenced, holds important keys to better understanding evolution of the structure of genomes, ...

The advent of extensive genomic information on zebra finches will be a great catalyst for further studies of songbirds and other non-mammlian species, which will provide critical new perspectives on human biology."

Genome Project

Genome Project: "The zebra finch serves as an ideal model organism for studies of neural structure and function, the effect of steroid hormones on the development of neural networks, and the impact of the products of sex chromosome specific genes on brain development."

Bright Beaks Signal Health to Female Birds, Study Says

Bright Beaks Signal Health to Female Birds, Study Says: "The male zebra finch's brightly colored beak helps attract mates. Males with the brightest beaks also had higher immune functions, according to recent research."

Protein that kills cells may help memory - Science

Protein that kills cells may help memory - Science: "researchers say their work exploring how zebra finches learn songs might have implications for treatment of neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer`s disease."

Yolk antioxidants and mate attractiveness in the Zebra Finch

IngentaConnect Yolk antioxidants and mate attractiveness in the Zebra Finch: "demonstrate that female Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata) mated to attractive males deposit more carotenoids and alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) in later-laid eggs, shown by a significant interaction between laying order and antioxidant concentration. "

IngentaConnect Do female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) copy each others ma...

IngentaConnect Do female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) copy each others ma...: "investigated whether female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) would alter their mate preferences after observing the choices of other females."

Lexington Herald-Leader | 12/14/2006 | Songbirds respond to social situations

Lexington Herald-Leader | 12/14/2006 | Songbirds respond to social situations: "The scientists, led by James Goodson, studied the brains of the melba finch and the violet-eared waxbill, territorial birds that live in monogamous pairs; the Angolan blue waxbill, which forms larger groups; and the spice finch and the zebra finch, which are highly gregarious species that form colonies of as many as 100 birds."