Author Details

The relation of geographical variation of magpie song to study area, can show obvious degree of similarities and differences in the structure of the song. Spectrogram studies revealed that all song types shared some common features. The frequency range of song was fixed between 1.99 and 5.57 kHz. A basic strophe (syllable) and a climax strophe are synthesized to form a complete song. It was found that songs were always introduced by repeating a basic strophe followed by a climax strophe and terminating with the basic strophe. A strophe contains one or more core elements. The last core element is referred to as the marking element, which is followed by a fine structure of specific elements. Discriminant function analysis revealed that the mean length of strophe (MLSt), the mean length at terminal part of strophe (MLTPSt), the number of element at the terminal part of strophe (NETPSt) and the number of element in strophe (NESt) were found to be the best determinants for differentiating song structure and classifying it into eight study sites. The geographical isolation and long distance of the study site, allowed birds to learn and produce song variations. This variation of song structure can show the unique characteristic of songs in each study area as well.

Keywords

Copsychus saularis, Song Dialect, Song Syntax, Song Variation, Species Recognition, Spectrogram.

Full Text

References

Kroodma, D. E. and Miller, E. H., Acoustic Communication in Bird, Academic Press, New York, 1982, vol. II.

Mello, C. V. and Ribeiro, S., ZENK protein regulation by song in the brain of songbirds. J. Comp. Neurol., 1998, 393, 426–438.

Buchanan, K. L. and Catchpole, C. K., Song as an indicator of male parental effort in the sedge warbler. Proc. R. Soc. London, Biol. Sci., 2000, 267, 321–326.

Grether, G. F., Losin, N., Anderson, N. C. and Okamato, K., The role of interspecific interference competition in character displacement and the evolution of competitor recognition. Biol. Rev., 2009, 84, 617–635.

Nordby, J. C., Campbell, S. E. and Beecher, M. D., Selective attrition and individual song repertoire development in song sparrow. Anim. Behav., 2007, 74(5), 1413–1418.

Balsby, T. J. S. and Hansen, P., Element repertoire: change and development with age in white throat (Sylvia communis) song. J. Ornithol., 2009, 151(2), 469–476.

Lehongre, K., Aubin, T. and Negro, C. D., Influence of social conditions in song sharing in the adult canary. Anim. Cogn., 2009, 12(6), 823–832.

Shiovitz, K. A. and Lemon, R. E., Species identification of song by indigo buntings as determined by responses to computergenerated sounds. Behavior, 1980, 74, 167–199.

Catchpole, C. K., Vocal Communication in Birds, University Park Press, London, 1979, pp. 40–68.

Dunmak, A. and Sitasuwan, T., Song dialect of Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) in Northern Thailand. Nat. Hist. J. Chulalongkorn Univ. Suppl., 2007, 7(2), 145–153.

Gardner, S., Sidisunthorn, O. and Anusarnsunthorn, V., A Field Guide to Forest Trees of Northern Thailand, Kobfai Publishing Project, Bangkok, 2000.

Sibley, C. G. and Monroe, B. L., Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of World, Yale University Press, New Haven, USA, 1990, pp. 678–679.

Lekagul, B. and Round, P. D., A Guide to the Birds of Thailand, Sahakarn Bhaet, Bangkok, 1991, pp. 301–302.

Khobkhet, O., Birds of Bung Boraphet, Danish Cooperation on Environment and development. Office of Environmental Policy and Planning, Bangkok, 1998, pp. 155–166.

Kumar, A. and Bhatt, D., Characteristics and significance of calls in oriental magpie robin. Curr. Sci., 2001, 80(1), 77–82.

Haavie, J. et al., Flycatcher song in allopatry and sympatryconvergence, divergence and reinforcement. J. Evol. Biol., 2004, 17(2), 227–237.

Martens, J., Teitze, D. T., Eck, S. and Veith, M., Radiation and species limits in the Asian Pallas’s warbler complex (Phylloscopus proregulus s.l.). J. Ornithol., 2004, 145, 206–222.

Thielcke, G., Stability or changes in dialects and dialect borders of the short-toed tree creeper (Certhia branchydactyla). J. Ornithol., 1992, 133, 44–58.

Packert, M., Martens, J. and Hofmeisterm, T., Vocalisations of firecrests from the islands of Madeira and Mallorca (Regulus iginicapillus madeirensis, R. i. balearicus). J. Ornithol., 2001, 142, 16–29.

Wilson, P. L., Towner, M. C. and Vehrencamp, S. L., Survival and song-type sharing in a sedentary subspecies of the song sparrow. Condor, 2000, 102, 355–363.

Beecher, M. D. and Brenowitz, E. A., Functional aspects of song learning in song birds. Trends. Ecol. Evol., 2005, 20, 143–149.

Krebs, J. R., Ashcroft, R. and Webber, M., Song repertoires and territory defense in the great tit. Nature, 1978, 271, 539–542.

Falls, J. B., Does song deter intrusion in white-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis). Can. J. Zool., 1988, 66, 206–211.

Beecher, M. D., Campbell, S. E. and Nordby, J. C., Territory tenure in song sparrow is related to song sharing with neighbours, but not to repertoire size. Anim. Behav., 2000, 59, 29–37.

Baker, M. C. and Mewaldt, L. R., Song dialects as barriers to dispersal in White-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys nuttalli). Evolution, 1978, 32, 712–722.

Stoddard, P. K., Vocal recognition of neighbors by territorial passerines. In Ecology and Evolution of Acoustic Communication in Birds (eds Kroodsma, D. E. and Miller, H. E.), Comstock, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, 1996, pp. 213–252.

Nelson, D. A., Song frequency as a cue for recognition of species and individuals in the field sparrow (Spizella pusilla). J. Comp. Psychol., 1989, 103(2), 171–176.

Milligan, M. M. and Verner, J., Inter–population song dialect discrimination in the white-crowned sparrow. Condor, 1971, 73, 208–213.

Searcy, W. A., Marler, P. and Peters, S. S., Species song discrimination in adult female song and swamp sparrows. Anim. Behav., 1981, 29(4), 997–1003.

Username
Password
Remember me