Reference dogs not pointing songbirds, there are exceptions to every rule. I have watched a setter over several seasons start the season pointing songbirds, especially meadowlarks, only to relearn to focus on exclusively gamebirds by seasons. Starting on early season prairie chicken it happens and by January it is cured through end of preserve season in March. She tips her hand that it is a song bird that by tail position, but she still holds the point. I flush the bird and she moves on.
She also points squirrels and rabbits in the yard, but never in the field. She will even successfully stalk chipmunks on summer walks, but never when hunting in season. So yes dogs may know what is game and what is not, but still do what they want to do and some simply like pointing anything that flies
