Fig. 3

Phonological error correction is independent of temporal context. a In imitation task 3 (ABC → AB⁻CB⁺) syllable B in the source song is replaced by two similar, equidistant syllables in the target song: B⁻ in the same sequential context and B⁺ in a different context. b Stack plot of song motif ABC renditions in one experimental bird (colors as in Fig. 2b). Syllable B shifted to become target syllable B⁺, resulting in a decrease in syntax match due to acquisition of incorrect syllable transitions AB⁺ and B⁺C (dashed arrows). c The median pitch per syllable for all B/B⁺ renditions in the same experimental bird, showing accurate matching of the target syllable B⁺. d Pitch trajectories of experimental birds trained with the task (n = 4). Two birds shifted pitch down to the in-context target B⁻ (in one case after oscillations), and two others shifted pitch up to the out-of-context target B⁺. e Pitch and syntax shift towards target at developmental endpoint (0, source pitch/syntax; 1, full match of target pitch B⁻ or B⁺/full match of target syntax (first 3 syllables), defined as 100% performance of correct transitions; −1, syntax maximally shifted away from target, defined as 100% performance of incorrect transitions; means ± s.e.m. across birds)