Those who study the diverse songs of birds closely make astonishing discoveries: there are excited battle songs, relaxed and varied motif songs, alternating songs in a multitude of variations, and in some species even pronounced imitation songs – some birds are true vocal artists. It becomes evident that songbirds listen to each other and are capable of reproducing what they hear. Their psychological affinity for music is significantly greater than in other animal groups. Walther Streffer elaborates on how to understand these phenomena and their significance in animal evolution through numerous examples and further considerations. Ultimately, he arrives at a contemplation of music in the animal kingdom as a whole and the development of freedom in the lives of songbirds.