Journal of Ethology

, Volume 28, Issue 2, pp 371–377 | Cite as

Male response to intruders is related to song characteristics in Darwin’s small tree finch (Camarhynchus parvulus)

  • Rebekah Christensen
  • Jeremy Robertson
  • Sonia Kleindorfer
Article
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Accepted:

Abstract

Bird song functions in mate choice and species recognition, and hence variation in song can contribute to divergence and reproductive isolation. We used playback experiments to examine male response to conspecific song in Darwin’s small tree finch. Song is a reliable signal of bill morphology in this species, and individuals displayed stronger response to songs of males with similar bill size. These findings suggest that, in the context of territorial defence, males discriminate between intruders on the basis of song characteristics. Given that male response to song may be examined as a proxy for female response, this study also implies that females could discriminate between males on the basis of song. The findings suggest that: (1) perceived threat of intruders is related to reproductive competition and not fighting assessment, and (2) geographical isolation is not required for biologically meaningful song variation in Darwin’s finches.

Keywords

Mating signal Playback Reproductive isolation Small tree finch Song 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the Charles Darwin Research Station and Galapagos National Park Service for the opportunity to work on the Galapagos, and for logistical support. This work was generously supported by Flinders University (Research Establishment Grant to S.K., Overseas Field Trip Grant to R.C.), Conservation International and the American Bird Conservancy with awards to S.K., the Australian Federation of University Women SA with a Barbara Crase Bursary to R.C., and TAME Airlines who provided reduced airfares. Many thanks to R. Dudaniec and J. O’Connor for field assistance, and to F. Sulloway and two anonymous reviewers for insightful comments on earlier versions of this manuscript.

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Copyright information

© Japan Ethological Society and Springer 2009

Authors and Affiliations

  • Rebekah Christensen
    • 1
  • Jeremy Robertson
    • 1
  • Sonia Kleindorfer
    • 1
  1. 1.School of Biological SciencesFlinders UniversityAdelaideAustralia

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