Individual differences in the motivation to communicate relate to levels of midbrain and striatal catecholamine markers in male European starlings

► Individual male starlings increased (sexually motivated) or decreased (non-sexually motivated) song in response to a female. ► Dopamine markers and norepinephrine in VTA and dopamine in area X correlated positively with sexually-motivated song. ► Norepinephrine in area X correlated negatively with non-sexually-motivated song. ► Dopamine markers in GCt correlated negatively with sexually-motivated song and positively with non-sexually-motivated song. ► Individual differences in catecholamine activity in VTA, GCt, and area X may underlie individual differences in song.