Some birds learn to recognize calls while still in their eggs

Prenatal sound perception is more widespread than previously thought, new research suggests

a brown bird perches on a branch and sings

Female superb fairy wrens (one shown) sing while incubating their eggs. Scientists already knew that the birds’ unhatched offspring appear to distinguish between songs of their own species versus others. Other birds may have the ability too, a new study suggests.

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Over a decade ago, behavioral ecologist Diane Colombelli-Négrel was wiring superb fairy wrens’ nests to record the birds’ sounds when she noticed something odd.