Avian acoustic communication: Understanding of peripheral and central neural systems with ecological adaptations

Abstract

Avian vocal communication represents one of the most intricate forms of animal language, playing a critical role in behavioral interactions. Both peripheral and central auditory-vocal pathways are essential for precisely integrating acoustic signals, ensuring effective communication. Like humans, songbirds exhibit vocal learning behaviors supported by complex neural mechanisms. However, unlike most mammals, songbirds possess the remarkable ability to regenerate damaged auditory cells. These capabilities offer unique opportunities to explore how birds adjust their vocal behavior and auditory processing in response to dynamic environmental conditions. Recent studies have advanced our understanding of the plasticity of avian vocal communication system, yet the vocal diversity and neurophysiological mechanisms underlying vocalization and hearing have often been examined independently. A comprehensive overview of how these systems interact and adapt in birds remains lacking. To address this gap, this review synthesizes the peripheral and central features of avian vocalization and hearing, while also exploring the mechanisms that drive the remarkable plasticity of these systems. Furthermore, it explores seasonal variations in bird vocalization and hearing and adaptations to environmental noise, focusing on how hormonal, neural, and ecological factors together shape vocal behavior and auditory sensitivity. Avian vocal communication systems present an exceptional model for studying the integration of peripheral and central vocal-auditory pathways and their adaptive responses to ever-changing environments. This review underscores the dynamic interactions between avian vocal communication systems and environmental stimuli, offering new insights into broader principles of sensory processing, and neuroplasticity.