Of course I was listening, darling

Male birds listen to female partners

source: New Scientist vol 212, no 2838, November 12 2011 p20

Male plain-tailed wrens from Ecuador appear to listen to female partners in a duet more than the females listen to them. The wrens were studied by Eric Fortune from John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. He studied six captured birds, three of each sex, previously recorded in duets. He anaesthetised the birds, and placed a wire in their high vocal centres (HVCs), involved in birdsong and learning. The males' HVCs were more active while listening to female partners singing, while the females' HVCs were more active while listening to their own songs.
BI,BT