Song repertoire size is often cited as an honest index of male quality. The relationship between repertoire size and survival, for which often using territory tenure as a proxy, has been tested in some species. However, this relationship is still unclear. Some studies have demonstrated that males with large repertoires keep territory long, whereas other studies have failed to support this prediction (Table 1). To make general inferences from this mixed evidence, we quantitatively reviewed the relevant literature based on a meta-analytic approach. We collected the data for 4 species from 12 populations, including Great Tit (Parus major), Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler (Horornis fortipes). Mean effect size (Cohen’s d) for the association between song repertoires and territory tenure was 0.60 (95% confidence interval range = 0.38 - 0.82), which was statistically significant (random-effects meta-analysis model, n = 12, P < 0.001) (fig. 1). The degree of association between song repertoires and territory tenure was independent of latitude of study area (Meta-Regression, estimate = 0.00, 95% CI: -0.02–0.02, P = 0.953)(fig. 2), but generally weak in populations with large song repertoires (Meta-Regression, estimate = -0.14, 95% CI: -0.30–0.03, P = 0.110)(fig. 3). Our results provide that repertoire size can serve as a potential signal of territory tenure capability.