My research investigates the evolution of complex learned behaviors using birdsong as a model system. I combine large-scale phylogenetic comparative methods with computational and machine-learning approaches to understand how behaviors like vocal learning evolve across hundreds of species. Below are selected publications; my full list is available on Google Scholar.
Selected Publications
Snyder, K.T., Loughran-Pierce, A., & Creanza, N. (2026). Territoriality modulates the coevolution of cooperative breeding and female song in songbirds. Nature Ecology & Evolution. DOI | GitHub
Phylogenetic comparative analyses across 1,041 songbird species showing robust bidirectional coevolutionary dynamics between cooperative breeding and female song. The association is especially pronounced in weakly territorial systems, suggesting female song may promote group cohesion.
Rethinking Birdsong Through the Lens of Cooperation — Springer Nature Research Communities (2026)
Snyder, K.T., Sellers, M., & Creanza, N. (2024). Cultural shifts after punctuated environmental stress: a study of song distributions in Dark-eyed Juncos. Journal of Field Ornithology. DOI | GitHub
Using community-science recordings from before and after the 2016 drought in upstate New York, this study examined how a punctuated environmental stressor reshaped song distributions in Dark-eyed Junco and Song Sparrow populations — providing evidence that population-wide developmental stress can drive rapid cultural shifts in birdsong.
Birdsong and environmental stress: how a drought in a community science hotspot enabled a natural experiment — Association of Field Ornithologists Blog (2024)
Snyder, K.T. & Creanza, N. (2019). Polygyny is linked to accelerated birdsong evolution but not to larger song repertoires. Nature Communications, 10(1), 884. DOI | GitHub
Analysis of mating system data across nearly 700 species and song data for over 350 species, revealing that polygyny accelerates birdsong evolution but destabilizes extremes in song complexity.
Sexual selection in action: Birds that attract multiple mates change their songs more quickly — The Conversation (2019)
Modern tools reveal ancient bird behaviors — Nature Ecology & Evolution Community, Behind the Paper (2019)
*Robinson, C.M., *Snyder, K.T., & Creanza, N. (2019). Correlated evolution between repertoire size and song plasticity predicts that sexual selection on song promotes open-ended learning. eLife, 8, e44454. DOI | GitHub
*Equal contribution. Cross-species analysis of 67 oscine songbird species demonstrating that lineages with adult song plasticity show directional evolution toward increased syllable and song repertoires.
Complex birdsongs help biologists piece together the evolution of lifelong learning — The Conversation (2019)
Media Coverage
Are female birds more likely to sing when their extended family helps with childcare? — Vanderbilt College of Arts & Science (2026)
Female birds more likely to sing when their extended family helps with childcare — Phys.org (2026)
Vanderbilt Postdoc Kate Snyder Uncovers How Boundaries and Bonds Build Bird Song — Evolution@Vanderbilt
Building the smallest recording studio in Nashville — VU BreakThru Blog (2018)
Vanderbilt researchers mic zebra finches to study how humans learn to talk — Nashville Public Radio (WPLN) (2018)
Building the tiniest recording studios in Music City — Vanderbilt University / YouTube (2018)
Kate T. Snyder, Ph.D. 