Summary
A mockingbird can imitate a car alarm; a wood thrush can sing two notes at once. Partha Mitra explores how young birds learn their songs — partly by instinct, partly by copying adults — making birdsong one of nature's best examples of learned behavior.
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Ages 7+
TED-Ed lessons move quickly and use rich vocabulary — best for grades 5–6 (some grade 4 with support). No content concerns; preview once for pace.
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
Birdsong isn't just pretty — this lesson shows how and why birds learn to sing.
- How does a young bird learn its song?
- Why might singing help a bird survive or find a mate?
- How is learning a song like the way you learned to talk?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: birdsong, instinct, learned behavior, imitate.
Try it: Listen to two different bird calls. Describe how they differ and guess what each might mean.