Birds can change their tunes as their populations evolve, researchers find

By Matthew Cloutier,

Published March 10, 2025 at 7:02 PM EDT

New research from the University of Oxford has provided fresh insights into how bird songs evolve over time. The analysis is based on over 100,000 songs.

Matthew Cloutier

Matthew Cloutier is a producer for TED Radio Hour. While at the show, he has focused on stories about science and the natural world, ranging from operating Mars rovers to exploring Antarctica's hidden life. He has also pitched these kinds of episodes, including "Through The Looking Glass" and "Migration."

Patrick Jarenwattananon

See stories by Patrick Jarenwattananon

Stories From This Author

Behind the price war of the major American pizza chains

Juana Summers

NPR's Juana Summers talks with journalist Mark Dent, who wrote a story called "Is Domino's Pizza Inflation Proof?"
Remembering Carl Dean, partner to Dolly Parton for more than 60 years

Patrick Jarenwattananon

Carl Thomas Dean, who was with Dolly Parton for over 60 years, has died at age 82. A bank teller who had an evident crush on Dean inspired Parton's hit song "Jolene."
With Trump in office, U.S. allies lose standing, security

Ari Shapiro

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Richard Haass, who served three republican presidents. Haass says President Trump's foreign policy has effectively put the post-WWII world order "on life support."

瓜神app

Birds can change their tunes as their populations evolve, researchers find