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The male bullfinch can be taught to sing like no other bird. In the 19th century the birds were highly prized and a finch trained to whistle three melodies would make a lot of money for the country folk who raised and taught them. Ornithologist Tim Birkhead plays recordings of both a wild bullfinch and a trained bird, and explains why the species might possess this extraordinary musical ability.

Picture: Bullfinch, Credit: Paul F Donald