DOCSLIB.ORG

Song Variation in a Population of Alder Flycatchers

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Song Variation in a Population of Alder Flycatchers J. Field Ornithol. 75(2):146±151, 2004 Song variation in a population of Alder Flycatchers Scott F. Lovell and M. Ross Lein1 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada Received 17 February 2003; accepted 30 April 2003 ABSTRACT. Song variation has been studied extensively over the past 50 yr but almost entirely in oscine passerines. Although learning is an essential component of song development in most, if not all, oscines, there is no de®nitive evidence for song learning in suboscine passerines. This suggests that the patterns and extent of individual and geographic variation may differ between these groups as well. We examined individual variation in the ``fee-bee-o'' song in a population of Alder Flycatchers (Empidonax alnorum) in southwestern Alberta. Songs of individual males were recorded during the breeding season in 2001. We measured temporal and frequency variables of songs and conducted univariate and multivariate statistical analyses to characterize variation within and among individuals. There was little variation among the songs of an individual male during single recording sessions and across recordings made over the breeding season. All measured variables varied signi®cantly more among than within individuals. Discriminant function analysis assigned 91±100% of songs to the correct individual. Therefore, there was suf®cient variation among individual males to identify them statistically and, potentially, to permit individual discrimination by the birds. SINOPSIS. VariacioÂn en el canto de una poblacioÂn de Empidonax alnorum La variacioÂn en el canto de las aves ha sido estudiada extensivamente en los ultimos 50 anÄos, particularmente en paserinos oscinos. Aunque el aprendizaje es un componente esencial en el desarrollo del canto de la mayorõÂa, si no en todos los oscinos, no hay evidencia para el aprendizaje del canto en paserinos suboscinos. Esto sugiere que el patroÂn y la amplitud de la variacioÂn individual y geogra®ca pudiera ser diferente entre estos dos grupos. Examinamos la variacioÂn individual en el canto ``®i-bii-o'' de una poblacioÂn de individuos de Empidonax alnorum en el suroeste de Alberta. Se grabo el canto de individuos particulares durante la temporada reproductive de 2001. Medimos variables temporales y de frecuencia y utilizamos anaÂlisis estadõÂstico univariable y multivariable para caracterizar la variacioÂn en y entre individuos. Se encontro muy poca variacioÂn entre individuos machos en una grabacioÂn hecha en un momento dado y en grabaciones obtenidas lo largo de la eÂpoca reproductiva. Todas las variables estudiadas, variaron sign®cativamente maÂs entre individuos que en individuos particulares. El anaÂlisis discriminativo de fun- ciones asigno de 91±100% de las canciones al individuo correcto. Por tanto, hubo su®ciente variacioÂn entre indi- viduos machos para poder identi®carlos, utilizando estadõÂsticas, y potencialmente para permitir que las propias aves puedan discriminar entre individuos. Key words: Alberta, Empidonax alnorum, individual variation, song, suboscine The avian order Passeriformes includes ap- in suboscines (Kroodsma 1984). A potential ef- proximately 5700 species or about 60% of liv- fect of learning versus non-learning modes of ing species of birds (Sibley and Monroe 1990). song development may be greater geographic Suboscine passerines (suborder Tyranni) make and individual variation in song structure ex- up approximately 20% (1151 species) of the hibited by oscines than by most suboscines order and are a dominant part of Neotropical (Kroodsma 1996). avifaunas (Sibley and Monroe 1990). Despite Although little, if any, geographic or individ- this, our knowledge of passerine song and its ual variation has been described in songs of functions is biased heavily toward studies of os- suboscines (Stein 1963; Lanyon 1978; Payne cine passerines (suborder Passeri). However, it and Budde 1979; Johnson 1980), visual in- is known that species in the two suborders ap- spection of published audiospectrograms (e.g., parently differ in mechanisms of song devel- Stein 1963; Payne and Budde 1979; Kroodsma opment. Learning and auditory feedback play a 1984) suggests measurable variation. However, major role in the development of songs in all large sample sizes of songs and quantitative oscine passerines studied (33 families; Kroods- analyses have been lacking in most studies of ma 1982, 1996; Slater 1989). In contrast, song variation in suboscine passerine songs (see ontogeny is apparently genetically-programmed Sedgwick 2001 for an exception). Individual variation in the vocalizations of 1 Corresponding author. Email: [email protected] birds has been documented in many species (re- 146 Vol. 75, No. 2 Song Variation in Alder Flycatchers 147 Fig. 1. Audiospectrogram of a ``fee-bee-o'' song of the Alder Flycatcher. Lines and symbols indicate time (T) and frequency (F) measurements. See Appendix 1 for explanation of measurements. viewed in Beer 1970; Falls 1982). The few song repertoires consist of one relatively simple studies that have attempted to characterize in- song type (Fig. 1) described verbally as ``fee-bee- dividual variation in songs of suboscines (Kel- o'' (Stein 1963). logg and Stein 1953; Payne and Budde 1979; Individual songs were acquired from the Kroodsma 1984) did not measure enough original tapes as digital sound ®les using RTSD songs to describe variation within and among Ver. 1.10 and SIGNAL Ver. 3.1 bioacoustical individuals in a population adequately and thus software (Engineering Design, Belmont, MA) were not able to provide a comprehensive quan- with a sample rate of 25 kHz. We wrote a pro- titative analysis of variation. We recorded and gram in the SIGNAL language to assist in mea- analyzed songs of Alder Flycatchers (Empidonax surement of 12 temporal variables and six fre- alnorum) to determine whether variation was quency variables for each ``fee-bee-o'' song (Fig. suf®ciently restricted within individuals, but 1; measurements de®ned in Appendix 1). Tem- suf®ciently great among individuals, to permit poral variables were measured on wideband us to identify individuals by song. spectrograms with a resolution of 2.6 ms. Fre- quency variables were measured on a spectral METHODS contour generated from the spectrogram. Spec- tral contours track the frequency with the max- Songs of 13 territorial male Alder Flycatchers imum sound energy at a given time. This pro- were recorded during the breeding season of cedure avoided the subjectivity associated with 2001 at Bryant Creek (518029N, 1148479W) in measurement of frequency on a wideband spec- the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, approx- trogram. Two data sets were generated. The ®rst imately 80 km west of Calgary, Alberta. Alder included measurements of 10 songs recorded Flycatchers breed in willow (Salix spp.) and bog on a single day for each male (within-recordings birch (Betula glandulosa) thickets bordering data set). The second included measurements streams and beaver ponds in the area. Ten males of single examples of songs from each of a series were captured using mist nets, banded, and of recordings made on 4±9 different dates for marked with hair dye on their breast feathers each male (among-recordings data set). for individual identi®cation. Three unmarked SYSTAT 9.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, individuals were identi®ed by territory position IL) was used in all statistical analyses. We used and their persistent use of speci®c song perches. coef®cients of variation (CV) to quantify the Songs were recorded between 03:00 to 08:00 magnitude of variability in each measured var- MST using a Nagra 4.2 reel-to-reel tape re- iable in the within-recordings data set. We cal- corder and a Sennheiser K6-P microphone in a culated within-male coef®cients of variation Telinga parabolic re¯ector. Alder Flycatchers (CVw) for each male to measure the amount of J. Field Ornithol. 148 S. F. Lovell and M. R. Lein Spring 2004 Fig. 2. Audiospectrograms of ``fee-bee-o'' songs of Alder Flycatchers indicating constancy of songs within individuals and variation among individuals. Each row has two songs of an individual. Note that examples for males FISP and WH2O were recorded in different years. variation during a recording session and calcu- si®cation technique and as a way to cross-vali- lated among-male coef®cients of variation date our results (Manly 1994). We also com- (CVa) from the variable means for each male. bined the two data sets into a cross-classi®ca- An ANOVA was conducted on each of the 18 tion data set, conducting an additional DFA to variables in the within-recordings data set to determine whether discriminant functions de- compare within-male and among-male variabil- rived from the among-recordings data set could ity in these variables. correctly identify the songs in the within-re- Many of the variables measured were corre- cordings data set. lated with one another. To reduce the number of variables and to eliminate problems caused RESULTS by colinearity of variables, we performed a prin- cipal components analysis (PCA) on each data Visual inspection of audiospectrograms sug- set. We then used discriminant function anal- gests differences in timing, ``shape,'' and pres- ysis (DFA) of principal component scores of ence or absence of different elements that char- songs in each of the two data sets to determine acterize songs of different individuals (Fig. 2). whether songs of individuals could be identi®ed Values of mean CVw ranged from 0.9% for reliably. Results of jack-knifed classi®cations, in maximum frequency of the terminal note of the which each song was classi®ed using discrimi- ``fee-bee-o'' song (F6) to 57.8% for rate of fre- nant functions computed from all songs in the quency change in the ``fee'' introduction (F2). data set except the case being classi®ed, are re- Values of CVa ranged from 5.2% for the max- ported as percentages of songs classi®ed cor- imum frequency of the ``fee'' chevron (F3) to rectly.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Final Recovery Plan Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax Traillii Extimus)
    Final Recovery Plan Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) August 2002 Prepared By Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Recovery Team Technical Subgroup For Region 2 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103 Approved: Date: Disclaimer Recovery Plans delineate reasonable actions that are believed to be required to recover and/or protect listed species. Plans are published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, sometimes prepared with the assistance of recovery teams, contractors, State agencies, and others. Objectives will be attained and any necessary funds made available subject to budgetary and other constraints affecting the parties involved, as well as the need to address other priorities. Recovery plans do not necessarily represent the views nor the official positions or approval of any individuals or agencies involved in the plan formulation, other than the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They represent the official position of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service only after they have been signed by the Regional Director or Director as approved. Approved Recovery plans are subject to modification as dictated by new findings, changes in species status, and the completion of recovery tasks. Some of the techniques outlined for recovery efforts in this plan are completely new regarding this subspecies. Therefore, the cost and time estimates are approximations. Citations This document should be cited as follows: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2002. Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Recovery Plan. Albuquerque, New Mexico. i-ix + 210 pp., Appendices A-O Additional copies may be purchased from: Fish and Wildlife Service Reference Service 5430 Governor Lane, Suite 110 Bethesda, Maryland 20814 301/492-6403 or 1-800-582-3421 i This Recovery Plan was prepared by the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Recovery Team, Technical Subgroup: Deborah M.
    [Show full text]
  • Birds of the East Texas Baptist University Campus with Birds Observed Off-Campus During BIOL3400 Field Course
    Birds of the East Texas Baptist University Campus with birds observed off-campus during BIOL3400 Field course Photo Credit: Talton Cooper Species Descriptions and Photos by students of BIOL3400 Edited by Troy A. Ladine Photo Credit: Kenneth Anding Links to Tables, Figures, and Species accounts for birds observed during May-term course or winter bird counts. Figure 1. Location of Environmental Studies Area Table. 1. Number of species and number of days observing birds during the field course from 2005 to 2016 and annual statistics. Table 2. Compilation of species observed during May 2005 - 2016 on campus and off-campus. Table 3. Number of days, by year, species have been observed on the campus of ETBU. Table 4. Number of days, by year, species have been observed during the off-campus trips. Table 5. Number of days, by year, species have been observed during a winter count of birds on the Environmental Studies Area of ETBU. Table 6. Species observed from 1 September to 1 October 2009 on the Environmental Studies Area of ETBU. Alphabetical Listing of Birds with authors of accounts and photographers . A Acadian Flycatcher B Anhinga B Belted Kingfisher Alder Flycatcher Bald Eagle Travis W. Sammons American Bittern Shane Kelehan Bewick's Wren Lynlea Hansen Rusty Collier Black Phoebe American Coot Leslie Fletcher Black-throated Blue Warbler Jordan Bartlett Jovana Nieto Jacob Stone American Crow Baltimore Oriole Black Vulture Zane Gruznina Pete Fitzsimmons Jeremy Alexander Darius Roberts George Plumlee Blair Brown Rachel Hastie Janae Wineland Brent Lewis American Goldfinch Barn Swallow Keely Schlabs Kathleen Santanello Katy Gifford Black-and-white Warbler Matthew Armendarez Jordan Brewer Sheridan A.
    [Show full text]
  • Wildlife Habitat Plan
    WILDLIFE HABITAT PLAN City of Novi, Michigan A QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY WILDLIFE HABITAT PLAN City of Novi, Michigan A QUALIlY OF LIFE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY JUNE 1993 Prepared By: Wildlife Management Services Brandon M. Rogers and Associates, P.C. JCK & Associates, Inc. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS City Council Matthew C. Ouinn, Mayor Hugh C. Crawford, Mayor ProTem Nancy C. Cassis Carol A. Mason Tim Pope Robert D. Schmid Joseph G. Toth Planning Commission Kathleen S. McLallen, * Chairman John P. Balagna, Vice Chairman lodia Richards, Secretary Richard J. Clark Glen Bonaventura Laura J. lorenzo* Robert Mitzel* Timothy Gilberg Robert Taub City Manager Edward F. Kriewall Director of Planning and Community Development James R. Wahl Planning Consultant Team Wildlife Management Services - 640 Starkweather Plymouth, MI. 48170 Kevin Clark, Urban Wildlife Specialist Adrienne Kral, Wildlife Biologist Ashley long, Field Research Assistant Brandon M. Rogers and Associates, P.C. - 20490 Harper Ave. Harper Woods, MI. 48225 Unda C. lemke, RlA, ASLA JCK & Associates, Inc. - 45650 Grand River Ave. Novi, MI. 48374 Susan Tepatti, Water Resources Specialist * Participated with the Planning Consultant Team in developing the study. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iii PREFACE vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY viii FRAGMENTATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES " ., , 1 Consequences ............................................ .. 1 Effects Of Forest Fragmentation 2 Edges 2 Reduction of habitat 2 SPECIES SAMPLING TECHNIQUES ................................ .. 3 Methodology 3 Survey Targets ............................................ ., 6 Ranking System ., , 7 Core Reserves . .. 7 Wildlife Movement Corridor .............................. .. 9 FIELD SURVEY RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS , 9 Analysis Results ................................ .. 9 Core Reserves . .. 9 Findings and Recommendations , 9 WALLED LAKE CORE RESERVE - DETAILED STUDy.... .. .... .. .... .. 19 Results and Recommendations ............................... .. 21 GUIDELINES TO ECOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE PLANNING AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.
    [Show full text]
  • Willow Flycatcher Empidonax Traillii
    Wyoming Species Account Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii REGULATORY STATUS USFWS: Migratory Bird USFS R2: No special status USFS R4: No special status Wyoming BLM: No special status State of Wyoming: Protected Bird CONSERVATION RANKS USFWS: Bird of Conservation Concern WGFD: NSS3 (Bb), Tier III WYNDD: G5, S5 Wyoming Contribution: LOW IUCN: Least Concern PIF Continental Concern Score: 10 STATUS AND RANK COMMENTS Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) has no additional regulatory status or conservation rank considerations beyond those listed above. Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (E. t. extimus) is designated as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act, but this subspecies is not found in Wyoming 1. NATURAL HISTORY Taxonomy: There are 4 or 5 recognize subspecies of Willow Flycatcher 2, 3. E. t. adastus and possibly E. t. campestris occur in Wyoming 4; however, some authorities do not recognize the campestris subspecies and include those individuals with the traillii subspecies 2. Description: Identification of the Empidonax genus of flycatchers to species is not always possible in the field. In Wyoming, identification of Willow Flycatcher is possible based on vocalization. Willow Flycatcher is a small flycatcher, 13 to 17 cm long. Males, females, and juvenile birds are identical in appearance, and the plumage is the same year-round 2, 5. Willow Flycatcher differs from other Empidonax flycatchers by having plumage that is browner overall and an eye-ring that is very reduced or absent 5. The species’ lower mandible is dull yellow, and the upper mandible is black. The feet are brownish-black to black 6. The most definitive way to identify Willow Flycatcher is by song.
    [Show full text]
  • (Empidonax Traillii) and Alder Flycatchers (E
    THE AUK A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY VOL. 105 APRIL 1988 NO. 2 GENETIC VARIATION IN SYMPATRIC WILLOW FLYCATCHERS (EMPIDONAX TRAILLII) AND ALDER FLYCATCHERS (E. ALNORUM) GILLESSEUTIN 1 AND JEAN-PIERRESIMON D•partementde sciencesbiologiques, Universit• de Montreal,90 VincentD'Indy, Outremont,Quebec H2V 2S9, Canada ASSTRACT.--Weused allozyme electrophoresisto estimatethe level of genetic variability and differentiation of allopatric and sympatricpopulations of the Willow (Empidonaxtraillii) and Alder (E. alnorum)flycatchers from southeasternCanada. We reasonedthat, if hybrid- ization occurs,sympatric populations should be more variable and interspecificallyless dif- ferentiatedthan allopatricpopulations. These predictions were not supportedby our results. Therefore, we concluded that in the surveyed region the two speciesare reproductively isolated.This conclusionis weakenedby the fact that samplesizes were relatively small and that geneticdifferentiation of the two speciesis low. Theseconditions render interbreeding difficult to detect if it occursat a low frequency. Received3 June1987, accepted 16 November 1987. THE Tyrannidae form the largest and most lation of two taxa, however, cannot be inferred diversefamily of birds in the New World (Tray- from the mere presenceof differences in their lot and Fitzpatrick 1982). Many genera com- vocalizations. For instance, in Myiarchusswain- prise groups of similar species, a number of soniand in M. tuberculifersome conspecific pop- which are consideredsuperspecies (e.g. Mayr ulations have
    [Show full text]
  • How to Identify Dear Enemies: the Group Signature in the Complex Song of the Skylark Alauda Arvensis
    317 The Journal of Experimental Biology 211, 317-326 Published by The Company of Biologists 2008 doi:10.1242/jeb.013359 How to identify dear enemies: the group signature in the complex song of the skylark Alauda arvensis Elodie Briefer*, Thierry Aubin, Katia Lehongre and Fanny Rybak University Paris 11, NAMC, CNRS-UMR8620, Orsay, France *Author for correspondence (e-mail: [email protected]) Accepted 19 November 2007 SUMMARY Song geographic variation and Neighbour–Stranger (N–S) discrimination have been intensively but separately studied in bird species, especially in those with small- to medium-sized repertoires. Here, we establish a link between the two phenomena by showing that dialect features are used for N–S recognition in a territorial species with a large repertoire, the skylark Alauda arvensis. In this species, during the breeding season, many pairs settle in stable and adjoining territories gathered in locations spaced by a few kilometres. In a first step, songs produced by males established in different locations were recorded, analyzed and compared to identify possible microgeographic variation at the syntax level. Particular common sequences of syllables (phrases) were found in the songs of all males established in the same location (neighbours), whereas males of different locations (strangers) shared only few syllables and no sequences. In a second step, playback experiments were conducted and provided evidence for N–S discrimination consistent with the dear-enemy effect, i.e. reduced aggression from territorial birds towards neighbours than towards strangers. In addition, a similar response was observed when a ʻchimericʼ signal (shared phrases of the location artificially inserted in the song of a stranger) and a neighbour song were broadcast, indicating that shared sequences were recognized and identified as markers of the group identity.
    [Show full text]
  • Karyotypes of Five Species of Empidonax Flycatchers
    Wilson Bull., 99(2), 1987, pp. 169-174 KARYOTYPES OF FIVE SPECIES OF EMPIDONAX FLYCATCHERS GERALD F. SHIELDS,’ JON C. BARLOW,*,’ AND Ross D. JAME@ ABsTRAcr.-Conventional karyotypic techniques were applied to five species of tyrant flycatchers (Empidonux) of the family Tyrannidae in order to determine the extent of chromosome differentiation within the group. The karyotypes of the Alder Flycatcher (E. alnorum), the Willow Flycatcher (E. trailliz], and the Hammonds’ Flycatcher (E. hammondii) appeared identical. The Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (E. Jlaviventris) and the Least Flycatcher (I?. minimus) possess one and three unique chromosomes, respectively. These data suggest an alternative hypothesis for relationships within the group. Received I I Aug. 1986, accepted 9 Dec. 1986. Karyotypic comparisons of closely related bird species are uncommon (Shields 1982), yet specific trends in karyotypic evolution have now been identified for a variety of better understood nonavian lineages (see White 1978:45-106). Such comparisons might help to elucidate trends in avian chromosome evolution. Herein, we describe the chromosomes of five species of Empidonax flycatchers and discuss the taxonomic relationships within this group. MATERIALS AND METHODS All birds in this study were captured in mist nets during the breeding season. Specimens of the Alder Flycatcher (Empidonux alnorum) and the Willow Flycatcher (E. trailliz) were all of known song type or mated to males of known song type. Karyotypes were obtained from primary cultures of kidney cells according to the procedures of Shields ( 1983). At least 10 chromosome spreads of high quality were analyzed for each species. Chromosomes were karyotyped using conventional photographic and measurement techniques.
    [Show full text]
  • Learn About Texas Birds Activity Book
    Learn about . A Learning and Activity Book Color your own guide to the birds that wing their way across the plains, hills, forests, deserts and mountains of Texas. Text Mark W. Lockwood Conservation Biologist, Natural Resource Program Editorial Direction Georg Zappler Art Director Elena T. Ivy Educational Consultants Juliann Pool Beverly Morrell © 1997 Texas Parks and Wildlife 4200 Smith School Road Austin, Texas 78744 PWD BK P4000-038 10/97 All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means – graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems – without written permission of the publisher. Another "Learn about Texas" publication from TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE PRESS ISBN- 1-885696-17-5 Key to the Cover 4 8 1 2 5 9 3 6 7 14 16 10 13 20 19 15 11 12 17 18 19 21 24 23 20 22 26 28 31 25 29 27 30 ©TPWPress 1997 1 Great Kiskadee 16 Blue Jay 2 Carolina Wren 17 Pyrrhuloxia 3 Carolina Chickadee 18 Pyrrhuloxia 4 Altamira Oriole 19 Northern Cardinal 5 Black-capped Vireo 20 Ovenbird 6 Black-capped Vireo 21 Brown Thrasher 7Tufted Titmouse 22 Belted Kingfisher 8 Painted Bunting 23 Belted Kingfisher 9 Indigo Bunting 24 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 10 Green Jay 25 Wood Thrush 11 Green Kingfisher 26 Ruddy Turnstone 12 Green Kingfisher 27 Long-billed Thrasher 13 Vermillion Flycatcher 28 Killdeer 14 Vermillion Flycatcher 29 Olive Sparrow 15 Blue Jay 30 Olive Sparrow 31 Great Horned Owl =female =male Texas Birds More kinds of birds have been found in Texas than any other state in the United States: just over 600 species.
    [Show full text]
  • Thesis 7Apr13
    The Role of Male Vocal Signals During Male-Male Competition and Female Mate Choice in Greater Prairie-Chickens (Tympanuchus cupido) Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Jennifer Ann Hale, B. S. Graduate Program in Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology The Ohio State University 2013 Thesis Committee: Dr. Jacqueline Augustine, Advisor Dr. Douglas Nelson, Advisor Dr. Andrew Roberts Dr. William Mitchell Masters Copyright by Jennifer Ann Hale 2013 Abstract In many taxa, vocal communication plays an integral role in aggression, territorial defense, and female choice. The acoustic structure of vocalizations is influenced by physical constraints on the vocalizer, suggesting a potential for discrimination among individuals. In the lek-mating Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido), male vocalizations are an integral part of the ritualized display. We investigated whether variation among vocal characteristics of individual male Greater Prairie-Chickens plays a role during female choice and male-male competition. Vocal characteristics varied among males but were fairly consistent for each male, suggesting that vocalizations might be used by prairie-chickens to identify individuals. Female choice was evaluated by comparing characteristics of vocalizations produced by reproductively successful and unsuccessful males, and successful males were found to vocalize at a relatively lower mean frequency. Playbacks of familiar and unfamiliar males were conducted on the lek to assess the role of vocalizations during male-male competition. Males responded to the prairie-chicken treatments by vocalizing at a faster rate and approaching the playback speaker, but they did not respond more strongly to the vocalizations of unfamiliar males than familiar males.
    [Show full text]
  • Status, Ecology, and Conservation of the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher
    Mark K. Sogge Chapter 6: Breeding Season Ecology The willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) breeds and includes comparisons with other populations across much of the conterminous United States and in and subspecies. portions of extreme southern Canada. As might be expected in such a wide-ranging species, willow fly- catchers in different portions of the range exhibit Breeding Range and Taxonomy _____ differences in appearance, song, and ecological char- The willow flycatcher is one of 11 Empidonax fly- acteristics. The intent of this chapter is to provide catchers that breed in North America. Although the information on the breeding-season ecology of the Empidonax flycatchers are considered a very difficult southwestern subspecies, E.t. extimus. However, most group to identify by sight alone, each has unique ecological studies to date have dealt with other willow morphological features, vocalizations, habitats, be- flycatcher subspecies. Relatively few studies have haviors, and/or other traits that have allowed taxono- been published on E.t. extimus, and much of what is mists and biologists to characterize each species. The currently known is presented in unpublished litera- willow flycatcher differs from most other Empidonax ture (e.g., agency and consulting firm reports); these in lacking a conspicuous eye-ring, and having both a sources are relied upon heavily in this chapter. This completely yellow lower mandible and a whitish throat chapter does not address habitat characteristics in that contrasts with a pale olive breast. While these depth, other than for nest sites (refer to A Survey of differences may be subtle, the willow flycatcher also Current Breeding Habitats for additional details).
    [Show full text]
  • Panama's Canopy Tower and El Valle's Canopy Lodge
    FIELD REPORT – Panama’s Canopy Tower and El Valle’s Canopy Lodge January 4-16, 2019 Orange-bellied Trogon © Ruthie Stearns Blue Cotinga © Dave Taliaferro Geoffroy’s Tamarin © Don Pendleton Ocellated Antbird © Carlos Bethancourt White-tipped Sicklebill © Jeri Langham Prepared by Jeri M. Langham VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DR., AUSTIN, TX 78746 Phone: 512-328-5221 or 800-328-8368 / Fax: 512-328-2919 [email protected] / www.ventbird.com Myriads of magazine articles have touted Panama’s incredible Canopy Tower, a former U.S. military radar tower transformed by Raúl Arias de Para when the U.S. relinquished control of the Panama Canal Zone. It sits atop 900-foot Semaphore Hill overlooking Soberania National Park. While its rooms are rather spartan, the food is Panama’s Canopy Tower © Ruthie Stearns excellent and the opportunity to view birds at dawn from the 360º rooftop Observation Deck above the treetops is outstanding. Twenty minutes away is the start of the famous Pipeline Road, possibly one of the best birding roads in Central and South America. From our base, daily birding outings are made to various locations in Central Panama, which vary from the primary forest around the tower, to huge mudflats near Panama City and, finally, to cool Cerro Azul and Cerro Jefe forest. An enticing example of what awaits visitors to this marvelous birding paradise can be found in excerpts taken from the Journal I write during every tour and later e- mail to participants. These are taken from my 17-page, January 2019 Journal. On our first day at Canopy Tower, with 5 of the 8 participants having arrived, we were touring the Observation Deck on top of Canopy Tower when Ruthie looked up and called my attention to a bird flying in our direction...it was a Black Hawk-Eagle! I called down to others on the floor below and we watched it disappear into the distant clouds.
    [Show full text]
  • Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher (Empidon Ax Floviventris)
    Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidon ax floviventris) A.O.U. No. 463.0 Range RANGE: Breeding: Newfoundland, w. to s. Mackenzie district, Northwest Territories, s. to n. New England, n. Pennsylvania (rarely) and c. Alberta. Winter: Mexico and Central America. RELATIVE ABUNDANCEIN NEW ENGLAND:Common (Maine). HABITAT: Breeding: Coniferous forests; low, wet, swampy thickets bordering ponds, streams and bogs, spruce and alder swamps, cool moist mountainsides. SPECIALHABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Coniferous forests, low wet areas. NESTING: Egg dates: June 10 to June 27, New York (Bull 1974:371).Clutch size: 3 to 5, typically 3 or 4 (Harrison 1975: 121). Incubation period: 15 days. Nestling period: 13 days. Age at sexual maturity: 1 year. Nest site: On or near the ground, sometimes at the base of a tree in a cav- ity formed by roots, but more often beside a hummock or moundand well hidden in sphagnum moss or other vege- tation. FORAGING:Major foods: Flying insects, fruits (occasion- ally). Substrate: Air. Technique: Hawking. COMMENTS:Birds perch and feed close to ground. Food habit studies indicate a predominance of animal food (97 percent) over vegetable food (3 percent) (Beal 1912 in Bent 1942: 178). KEYREFERENCES: Bent 1942, Walkinshaw 1957. Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) A.O.U. No. 465.0 Range RANGE:Breeding: Most of e. North America, including ne. Pennsylvania, sw. and se. New York and casually to s. New England. Winter: Costa Rica to n. South Amer- ica. RELATIVEABUNDANCE IN NEW ENGLAND:Common. HABITAT:Breeding: Deciduous woodlands, shaded ra- vines, heavily wooded bottomlands, river swamps, ham- mocks of cypress ponds (Harrison 1975: 122).
    [Show full text]