Scientists thought only male birds sang - until women joined the research
![- PHOTO TAKEN 12JAN06 - A Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus) rests on a perch at La Selva biological station in Sarapiqui, 80 miles (129 km) north of San Jose, Costa Rica January 12, 2006. The Selva is one of the world's most important sites for tropical ecosystem research. [La Selva has about 73% of its area under primary tropical rain forest. Each year, more than 250 scientists from some 25 countries and international students come to La Selva to study tropical ecology. Species diversity include more than, 330 species of trees, and 43 species of birds. Picture taken January 12.] - PBEAHUNSZBU](https://assets.weforum.org/article/image/responsive_big_webp_6fkVamSa-fld0npQ38vsv5Q9yPaEwVLbkKMU9hk0o2c.webp)
For more than 150 years, scientists have considered bird song to be a male trait. Image: REUTERS
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