An Evolutionary View of the Origins and Functions of Avian Vocal Communication.

Morton, Eugene S.

doi:10.3838/jjo.49.69

Cited by 28 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(20 reference statements)

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“…Because the reliability of a signal is context dependent, testing the signal in different contexts might aid the understanding of both the function of the signal and the evolution of the signaling system. Soft song is characterized by markedly lower amplitudes than normal song (here termed broadcast song) and has long been observed in many birds (Dabelsteen et al 1998;Morton 2000). Recent studies have confirmed that soft song is an aggressive signal; soft song can predict aggressive escalation in both passerine Ballentine et al 2008;Hof and Hazlett 2010;Akcay et al 2011) and non-passerine birds (Rek and Osiejuk 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Reliability of the Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler’s soft song in male-male conflict

et al. 2015

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Background: Soft song is a low-amplitude song produced by many birds. Recent studies have confirmed that soft song is an aggressive signal. For example, the Brownish-flanked Bush Warblers Cettia fortipes use soft song in male-male conflicts, particularly prior to attacks. Although stable signaling systems require that signals be honest on average, models predict that cheating is an acceptable strategy for some individuals or in some contexts. Methods: This study aimed to test the reliability of soft song as an aggressive signal in the brownish-flanked bush warbler. We used mounted specimens accompanied by broadcast songs or soft songs to simulate a male attempting to invade an existing territory. Results: We found the mounted specimen that coupled playback of soft songs suffered more and quicker attacks from the territory owner and that the relationship between soft song and subsequent attack in the territory owner was far from perfect. We observed territory owners that both over-signaled (i.e., produced soft song but did not attack) and under-signaled (i.e., attacked without producing soft song). Under-signaling territory owners were relatively more commonly than were over-signaling territory owners, particularly in simulated intrusion that coupled playback of soft song with a mount specimen. Conclusions:We discuss the cost of producing soft song and the potential benefit of the unreliable use of soft song and propose a new hypothesis for under-signaling with soft song; i.e., under-signaling territory owners might benefit from taking the initiative in fights.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Reliability of the Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler’s soft song in male-male conflict

et al. 2015

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“…Recent work on the close-range, low-amplitude songs (i.e., 'soft song', 'quiet song', 'twitter song', or 'whisper song') noted in over 24 species of North American passerines (Morton 2000) have largely focused on the role of such songs in aggressive contexts (Anderson et al 2008(Anderson et al , 2012Searcy & Beecher 2009;Akcay et al 2011). Nevertheless, there are some reports that low-amplitude songs may serve a dual function in both aggressive and courtship interactions (Dabelsteen et al 1998;Balsby 2000;Reichard et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Watch Your Tone: Social Conditions Modulate Singing Strategies

et al. 2015

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Bird song is typically depicted as a male singing a long‐distance signal to potentially unknown receivers to (1) deter males and (2) attract females. Nevertheless, many songbirds sing from close distances to a known receiver; males of these species may be under more intense selective pressure to modify their songs depending on the sex of the receiver in order to convey different motivational states (aggression versus courtship) to the different sexes. In a laboratory setting, we examined how receiver sex affected within‐song variation of the close‐range singing behavior in the brown‐headed cowbird (Molothrus ater). Although we know that cowbird song is influenced by flock composition, it is still unclear as to how the cowbird modifies his song based on social context. Using a cross‐correlation analysis of each male's different song types, we found that pairs of songs were significantly more dissimilar if they were directed to females compared with songs directed to males. We subsequently tested whether there were any consistent spectral or temporal patterns in the songs males gave to females versus to males. Our results lend support for the Motivational Structural Rules Hypothesis as songs directed toward males had higher entropy (i.e., harshness) than the same song type directed toward females. Our results suggest that cowbirds may have evolved the ability to alter multiple dimensions of their singing behavior based on receiver sex.

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“…The trill-only song (twitter song) is involved in the "quiet song" referred to by Dabelsteen et al (1998). Dabelsteen et al (1998) and Morton (2000) provided some examples of quiet songs functioning as aggressive signals, and proposed the idea of "why quiet." However, these quiet songs are not the subjects of the present study.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Whisper Song in the Grey Thrush Turdus cardis Immediately Before and After Feeding Their Young

徹¹

2009

J Yamashina Inst Ornithol

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Abstract. Many bird species utter a "whisper song" at the nest site, e.g., during nest relief. However, studies on the song and its function tend to be wholly descriptive, and very few quantitative analyses have been conducted. The male Grey Thrush Turdus cardis emits the whisper whistle song immediately before and after feeding his young. In this study, the male's behavior was examined in relation to the female's presence, for four nests. The male sang on 59.5% of the occasions immediately before arrival at the nest, and on 44.6% of the occasions immediately after departure. In most males, the frequency of singing before arrival did not relate to the presence of the female at the nest. However, on occasions when the male sang before arrival, the female tended to fly away before the male's arrival, suggesting that the song was used as a sign of nest relief. The male tended to sing immediately after departure more frequently when the female was absent from the nest than when she was present, although the singing did not a#ect the timing of the female's next arrival. According to observations made immediately before fledging, nestling activity was synchronized with the frequency of the male's singing behavior. Thrushes might be suitable subject species to study the role of songs within the family group.

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An Evolutionary View of the Origins and Functions of Avian Vocal Communication.

Cited by 28 publications

References 21 publications

Reliability of the Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler’s soft song in male-male conflict

Reliability of the Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler’s soft song in male-male conflict

Watch Your Tone: Social Conditions Modulate Singing Strategies

Whisper Song in the Grey Thrush Turdus cardis Immediately Before and After Feeding Their Young

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