Ph.D., Biological Sciences, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1982.

B.S., Zoology (summa cum laude), The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 1975.

Animal behavior, bioacoustics, vocal communication, learning and development.

Handley, H. G. and D. A. Nelson. 2005. Ecological and phylogenetic influences on song sharing in song birds. Ethology 111: 221-238.

Nelson, D. A., K. I. Hallberg and J. A. Soha. 2004. Cultural evolution of Puget Sound white-crowned sparrow song dialects. Ethology 110: 879-908.

Nelson, D. A. and J. A. Soha. 2004. Male and female white-crowned sparrows respond differently to geographic variation in song. Behaviour 141: 53-69.

Soha, J. A., D. A. Nelson and P. G. Parker. 2004. Genetic homogeneity of song dialect populations in Puget Sound white-crowned sparrows. Behavioral Ecology 15: 636-646.

Nelson, D. A. and J. A. Soha. 2004. Perception of geographic variation in song in Puget Sound white-crowned sparrows. Animal Behaviour 68: 395-405.

Nelson, D. A., H. Khanna & P. Marler. 2001. Learning by instruction or selection: implications for patterns of geographic variation in bird song. Behaviour 138: 1137-1160.

Nelson, D. A. 2000. Song overproduction, selective attrition, and song dialects in the white-crowned sparrow. Anim. Behav. 60: 887-898.

Nelson, D. A. 2000. A preference for own-subspecies' song guides vocal learning in a song bird. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 97: 13348-13353.

Editor, Animal Behaviour 2003-2006

Associate Editor, The Auk 2001-2003

Member, Animal Behavior Society

Member, American Ornithologists' Union, Elected Member 1996.

Member, Cooper Ornithological Society