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Territorial and Courtship Songs of Birds

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Abstract

MORSE1 has postulated that the two song types of the black-throated green warbler (Dendroica virens) have different functions: song A for territorial defence and song B for courtship and pair-bond maintenance. On the basis of several years of study of the songs of this and other species of Parulidae, I feel it is possible to criticize Morse's hypothesis on several points and to suggest an alternative explanation.

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References

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LEIN, M. Territorial and Courtship Songs of Birds. Nature 237, 48–49 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/237048a0

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