Geographic differences in the song of the island canary

Singing male island canary (Serinus canaria) on the island of Graciosa (Azores)
© Stefan Leitner
Geographic differences in song are maintained through social learning. The more variable a birds sing in a particular region, the more difficult it is to distinguish them from others. Therefore, to better understand the mechanisms of cultural transmission in the Island Canary, a more detailed information on inter- and intra-island movements is required as well as identifying the exact boundaries of local populations.

View from Graciosa to the islands of São Jorge (front) and Pico (rear)
© Stefan Leitner