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A Comparative Study of the Breeding Biology of Hammond's ( Empidonax Hammondii) and Dusky (Empidonax Oberholseri) Flycatchers

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A Comparative Study of the Breeding Biology of Hammond's ( Empidonax Hammondii) and Dusky (Empidonax Oberholseri) Flycatchers University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1975 A comparative study of the breeding biology of Hammond's ( Empidonax hammondii) and Dusky (Empidonax oberholseri) flycatchers James Andrew Sedgwick The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Sedgwick, James Andrew, "A comparative study of the breeding biology of Hammond's ( Empidonax hammondii) and Dusky (Empidonax oberholseri) flycatchers" (1975). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 6917. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/6917 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A COÎTARATIVü STUDY OF THE BREEDING BIOLOGY OF HAIEIOITD'S ( EIEPIDONAX HAl'MOHDIl) AND DUSKY (EfTPIDOHAX OBERHOLSERI ) FLYCATCHERS By James A. Sedgwick 3.S., Trinity College, 1971 Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA 1975 Approved by: Cltà^Lraan, feoard of/(Salniiners / f ? . UMI Number: EP37718 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMT DisMrtackm Pi^iahing UMI EP37718 Published by ProQuest LLC (2013). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code Proj^^sf ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 - 1346 Sedgwick, James A., M. A., 1975 Zoology A Comparative S t u ^ of the Breeding Biology of Hanroid's (Ernpidonax hattinondii) and Dusky (Ertpidonax oberholseri) Flycatchers (201 pp.) Director; Philip L. Wriest f . L o j The Hanmond's Æàpidcaïax haimondii) and Dusky (Ertpidonax cberhol- seri) Flycatchers are perhaps more similar in gross physical eppear- ance than any other two tyrarmid species. In western Montana, the habitats of these two species regularly interdigitate and hartinondii and oberholseri cone into contact in numerous montane areas. This stuc%r presents data on the natural history of these two species em­ phasizing the ways in which they differ. Vocalizations were re­ corded and analyzed and descriptions of previously undescribed calls are included, ihe breeding biology was examined in terms of beha­ vioral observations and quantitative data on such factors as feed­ ing rates, fecal sac production, and nesting success. Both species have three-syllable songs which differ in terms of loudness, the variety of ways in vhioh the syllables may be com­ bined, and syllable differences as determined by frequency and length. Each species also has a number of different, characteris­ tic calls. All nests of oberholseri were placed in crotches of small shrubs. All hammondii nests were saddled on linbs of mature conifers. Nest­ ing materials of both species were similar, however nest sh^pe differed considerably. Incubation was performed by the female alone and attentiveness av­ eraged over 80% in both species. Incubation lasted for a period of about 15 d ^ s in oberholseri. Incubation feeding was observed in oberholseri but not in hammondii. The male and female of both species fed the young. Ihe feeding rate for hammondii was 2.77 feedings/hour/young and for oberholseri was 2.06. Feeding rates started lew, increased to a hiÿi when the nestlings were 5-8 days old and then leveled off. Adults of both species ate or carried off the fecal sacs of the nestlings until shortly before fledging. Dusky young expelled fe­ cal sacs after 24.9% of the feedings while Hartmond's young expelled them cifter 31.4% of the feedings. Nesting success in oberholseri was about 40.0%. Of 95 eggs laid, 38 hatched and fledged. Of 24 nests, 10 fledged no young and 14 fledged at least one young. Where both oberholseri and the Brown­ headed Cotmbird occurred, one of nine Dusky nests was parasitized. The preferred habitat of oberholseri in western Montana is brushy, logged-over slopes vhile harnnondii prefers a variety of coniferous habitats. Areas of open, brushy coniferous forest were occupied by both species. 11 ACKÎ! 0 V/LEDGI'-IENT S I am particularly Indebted to my committee chairman, Dr. Philip L. Wright for his guidance and assistance throughout all phases of this study. He was instrumental in initiating ray original interest in ornithology and in Ernpidonax flycatchers. Committee members Dr. Bart W, 0'Gara, Dr. Andrew L. Sheldon, and Dr. Arnold W. Bollee all gave helpful suggestions and criticism of the manuscript. My thanks to the Zoology Department, University of i.iontana for providing facilities and equipment for song recording and analysis and financial assistance for travel, ily thanks also to those members of the Botany Department who aided me in identification of nesting materials and to Marjorie Falconer who did the bioillustrations. I am especially grateful to my wife, Nancy, for her encouragement and continuous enthusiasm shown toward my study of Ernpidonax flycatchers. In addition, she assisted in collecting field data and typed three drafts of the manuscript. Ill TABLE OF CGIITEÎTTS Page ABSTRACT................................................. ii ACKiTOV/LEBainTÎTS.......................................... iii LIST DP TABLES....................................... vi LIST OF FIGURES............................................ ix Chapter I. lETROLUCTIOh................................... 1 II. MATERIALS AiTD METHODS......................... 3 Study Areas.............................. 3 Rests..................................... 3 Song Recording........................... 9 Observations............................ 9 Habitat.................................. 9 Climate.................................. 11 Terminology.............................. 11 Scope of the Study....................... 11 III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION........................ 14 Voice..................................... 14 Territoriality........................... 49 Pair Formation........................... 56 The Nests. ........................... 59 IV V Chapter Page Egg Laying and the Eggs............... 7^ Incuhation......... Q5 Incubation Feeding.................... 101 Hatching....... ................«...... 109 Brooding.......................... # . 110 Feeding............... 117 ITest Sanitation..........*............ 128 Fledging.............. 137 Nesting Success and Failure... ... 149 Brood Parasitism............... 1 59 Perch Height ......... 160 Foraging............................... 1 63 Identification in the Field.......... 167 Habitat................................ 171 IV. SUr-FLA.RY..................................... 186 LITERATURE CITED....................................... 192 APPEÎTDICES............................................. 195 I. Local Climatological Data. .......... 195 II. Egg Laying, Hatching and Fledging Dates of oberholseri............... ....... 1 99 III. Duration of the Breeding Cycle of oberholseri ....................... 200 IV. Associated Species of oberholseri and hammondii.................................. 201 LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1 . Song Forms of oberholseri and hammondii....... 21 2* Frequency of Song Syllables of oberholseri and hammondii......... 22 3# Frequency of oberholseri Songs and Calls....... 27 A . Frequency o oberholseri Calls and Song........ 28 5. Frequency of hammondii Song and Calls.......... 29 6. Frequency of hammondii Calls and Song.......... 50 7. iiesting Sites of oberholseri................... 60 8. Nest Sites of hammondii........................ 63 9. Nesting Ilaterials of oberholseri and hammondii ......... 64 10. Nest Dimensions of oberholseri and hammondii... 70 11. Nest versus Renest Sites of oberholseri....... 78 12. Sequence of Egg Laying in oberholseri......... 82 13. Egg Measurements of oberholseri................ 84 14. Attentive and Inattentive Periods of oberholseri and hammondii during Incubation.. 87 15. Attentive and Inattentive Periods of oberholseri during Incubation Feeding..... 88 16. Behaviors of oberholseri Females during Incubation.... ........... 98 17. Behaviors of hammondii Females during Incubation............................. 99 18. Stages of the Breeding Cycle during which Incubation Feeding was Observed in oberholseri........... 102 vi vil 'able Page 19. Rate of Incubation Feeding in oberholseri ... 104 20. Vocalizations of Males of oberholseri during 50 Incubation Feedings................ 106 21. Behaviors of oberholseri Females during Brooding............................... 112 22. Behaviors of hammondii Females during Brooding............................... 113 23. Attentive and Inattentive Periods of oberholseri during Brooding............... 114 24. Attentive and Inattentive Periods of hammondii during Brooding................. 116 25. Feeding Vocalizations of hammondii and oberholseri.................... 122 26. Rate of Feeding the Young in oberholseri and hammondii................
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