Patterns of phosphorylated tyrosine hydroxylase vary with song production in female starlings

► We examined pTH in female starlings exposed to an unfamiliar nest box competitor. ► Singers showed higher pTH-ir in lateral septum and ventral tegmental area. ► In medial preoptic area, pTH-ir correlated positively with number of songs produced. ► There were no differences between groups in the ventromedial hypothalamus.