Comparative Studies of the Rock Wren and the Canyon Wren

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Comparative Studies of the Rock Wren and the Canyon Wren Comparative studies of the Rock Wren and the Canyon Wren Item Type text; Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Tramontano, John Philip, 1936- Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 24/09/2021 17:22:40 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/551742 COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF THE ROCK WREN AND THE CANYON WREN by John P. Tramontane A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the DE PAR T ME NT * OF ZOOLOGY In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 1 9 6 4 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This thesis has been submitted in partial fulfillment of re ­ quirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to bor­ rowers under rules of the Library. y i Brief quotations from this thesis are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the head of the major department or the Dean of the Graduate College when in his judgment the proposed use of the material is in the interests of schol­ arship. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. SIGNED: APPROVAL BY THESIS DIRECTOR This thesis has been approved on the date shown below: 5rkn>l!vUx yVi. ) STEPHEN M. RUSSELL Date Assistant Professor of Zoology ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to thank Dr. Stephen M. Russell and Dr. Charles H. Lowe, Jr., for their assistance during the course of this study. Dr. Anthony Ross did the stomach analyses and Dr. William Hardy made possible the sonograms. Many thanks must also be given to Richard S. Crossin and Robert D. Ohm art for their valuable advice and assistance in the field and with specimens in the laboratory. Use of the collections at the University of California at Los Angeles and at Occidental College by Dr. Thomas R. Howell and Dr. William Hardy respectively, is greatly appreciated. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS P a g e LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS .................... v LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................. v i A B S T R A C T ............................. v ii IN T R O D U C T IO N ......................................................................................................... 1 M ETH O D S A N D M A T E R IA L S................................................................................ 2 H A B ITA T ......................................................................................................................... 4 G E N E R A L B E H A V IO R .................................................................. 12 Foraging Habits ........................ 14 B obbing H a b i t ............................................................................................ 17 I n te r s p e c if ic E n c o u n t e r s ..................................... 21 V o ice ....................................................................................... 24 F o o d ............................................................................................................ 28 BREEDING BIOLOGY ............................................. 34 P a i r F o r m a t i o n ........................................................................................ 34 T e r r i t o r i e s ...................................... 35 N e st S i t e s ..................................................................................................... 35 Nest D escription .................... 37 N e stin g C h r o n o lo g y ...................................................................... 39 C o w b ird P a r a s i t i s m .................................................................. 41 Other Species in Study A reas .................... 43 E C O L O G Y ........................................................................................................................ 45 CONCLUSIONS ......................... 55 LITERATURE CITED ............................... 57 iv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure Page 1 R ip a r ia n w o o d lan d of L o w e r S abino C a n y o n .............................. 8 2 Sahuaro-paloverde association of Lower Sabino Canyon. 8 3 Close-up view of the sahuaro-paloverde association . 9 4 Canyon Wren nest site in Lower Sabino Canyon ..................... 9 5 S tre a m b e d of M olino C r e e k ............................................................... 10 6 Riparian woodland of Molino Canyon .............................................. 10 7 Grass-oak woodland association of Molino Canyon .... 11 8 Nest site of Rock Wren in Molino Canyon .................................. 11 9 Comparative tarsal lengths of the Rock and Canyon Wren 15 10 Comparative culmen lengths of the Rock and Canyon Wren 16 11 Percent time spent by foraging individuals in open situations 18 12 Sonogram of Canyon Wren call notes . ... 26 13 Sonogram of Rock Wren call notes . ......... 27 14 Breeding territories of both species in Molino Canyon. 36 15 C anyon W re n n e s t s ite in M olino C a n y o n ......................... 42 16 Close-up of Canyon Wren nest site in Molino Canyon . 42 17 Geographic limits of the Canyon and Rock Wrens ..... 46 18 Daily maximum tem peratures of five slopes in Molino Canyon 52 19 Daily minimum tem peratures of five slopes in Molino Canyon 53 LIST OF TABLES T a b le P a g e 1 Stomach analyses of winter specimens . ...... 30 2 S to m a c h a n a ly s e s of s p rin g s p e c i m e n s ...................................... 31 3 Stomach analyses of summer specimens ............................ 32 4 Winter, spring and summer foraging areas of both species 49 v i ABSTRACT The Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus) and the Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) occupy habitats characterized by canyon walls or rocky slopes. I conducted a study of sympatric populations of these species in the Santa Catalina Mountains of southeastern Arizona. I studied their behavior, food habits, breeding biology, and ecology. Additional information on their natural histories is also presented. Both share the following: habit of bobbing; sim ilar call notes; food items; sim ilar care of the young; and their breeding cycles are of about the same length. They differ significantly, however, in the following ways: habitat preference; nest construction; nest placement; foraging habits; song; and apparent length of the pair bond. Under­ standably ornithologists disagree on how closely they are related. I conclude that these two species overlap ecologically but that they have different niches and, in so doing, avoid any significant competition. v ii INTRODUCTION The family Troglodytidae consists of about 63 species of wrens. Except for one species (Troglodytes troglodytes) it is a New World family. Within the boundaries of the continental United States nine of these species breed in habitats ranging from dry, southwestern deserts to wet, northern forests. Only two species occupy regions character­ ized by canyon walls or rocky hillsides: the Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus) and the closely related Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus). The A. O. U». Check-list of North American Birds (1957) places these species in separate genera (as I have done here); however, Paynter (I960) lists both species under the genus Salpinctes. These two species have geographical ranges which overlap extensively, but the habitats in which each is generally found are different. In the Santa Catalina Mountains of southeastern Arizona they occupy the same habitat. Sympatric populations of these species have not previously been reported. A detailed study of the Canyon Wren or of the Rock Wren has never been published. Very little is known of their behavior or food habits. This is a study of sympatric populations of these species in an attempt to better understand their ecology and further elucidate their neglected natural histories. 1 METHODS AND MATERIALS From January 1963 to July 1964 I conducted a study of the Rock and Canyon W rens. All breeding data were collected during the spring of 1964; however, no data were gathered during the months of June, July and August of 1963. I selected two conveniently located and accessible study areas in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The first was in Lower Sabino Canyon, just above the Lower Sabino Canyon Picnicgrounds. It encompassed an area of about 55 acres, and elevations range from 2, 660 to over 3, 000 feet. The second study area encompassed about 130 acres in Mo lino Canyon, just below Molino Basin Campground. Elevations here range from 3, 500 to nearly 5, 000 feet. Lower Sabino Canyon supports a sahuaro-paloverde plant association while Molino Canyon is typified by a grass-oak woodland association. I further made irregular visits to the riverbed of the Santa Cruz River, about 5 miles southwest of the city of Tucson, Arizona. Observations made here were compared with those made in the foot­ hills of the Catalinas. I collected 20 individuals of both species for stomach analyses and sex determinations. I made tentative sexual determinations in the field by close observations of paired individuals during the breeding 2 3 season.
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