Data from: Song evolution, speciation, and vocal learning in passerine birds

Phenotypic divergence can promote reproductive isolation and speciation,
suggesting a possible link between rates of phenotypic evolution and the
tempo of speciation at multiple evolutionary scales. To date, most
macroevolutionary studies of diversification have focused on morphological
traits, whereas behavioral traitsࣧincluding vocal signalsࣧare rarely
considered. Thus, although behavioral traits often mediate mate choice and
gene flow, we have a limited understanding of how behavioral evolution
contributes to diversification. Furthermore, the developmental mode by
which behavioral traits are acquired may affect the rates of behavioral
evolution, although this hypothesis is seldom tested in a phylogenetic
framework. Here, we examine evidence for rate shifts in vocal evolution
and speciation across two major radiations of codistributed passerines:
one oscine clade with learned songs (Thraupidae) and one suboscine clade
with innate songs (Furnariidae). We find that evolutionary bursts in rates
of speciation and song evolution are coincident in both thraupids and
furnariids. Further, overall rates of vocal evolution are higher among
taxa with learned rather than innate songs. Taken together, these findings
suggest an association between macroevolutionary bursts in speciation and
vocal evolution, and that the tempo of behavioral evolution can be
influenced by variation in developmental modes among lineages.