Abstract
The flight display of the male lark bunting (Calamospiza melanochorys) has been hypothesized to function in mate attraction, courtship, and establishment and maintenance of territory. However, empirical support for these suggestions has not yet been provided. The present investigation provides a behavioral analysis of male lark buntings in reproductive condition and documents three phases in the reproductive cycle: preterritorial, territorial, and mated. The flight display was observed in foraging groups of preterritorial males, apparently in response to conspecific flyovers. Solitary territorial males responded to conspecific flyovers (intrusions) with a flight display and pursuit of the intruder. Flight displays were not observed in mated males. The observations suggest that: (1) the communal flight displays of preterritorial males encourage dispersal of the males, and (2) the solitary flight-displays of territorial males subserve establishment and maintenance of territory. Hypotheses are advanced regarding the role of the males’ flight display in the reproductive development of females and the absence of these displays during the mating phase.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Baumgarten, E. H. Lark bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) Stejneger. In A. C. Bent & Collaborators, O. L. Austin (Ed.), Life histories of North American cardinals, grosbeaks. buntings, towhees, finches, sparrows, and allies. New York: Dover, 1968. (Originally published as United States National Museum Bulletin No. 237, Smithsonian Institution Press.)
Bailey, F. M. Handbook of birds of the Western United States. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, 1902.
Baird, S. F., Brewer, T. M., & Ridgeway, R. North American land birds. (3 Vols.). Boston: Little, Brown, 1905.
Cameron, E. S. The birds of Custer and Dawson Counties, Montana. Auk, 1908, 25, 39–56.
Coues, E. Key to North American birds. Boston: Estes & Lauriat, 1884.
Graber, R. & Graber, J. Notes on the birds of Southwestern Kansas. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science. 1951, 54, 145–162.
Gregg, R. E. The ants of Colorado. Boulder, Colo: University of Colorado Press, 1963.
Keyser, L. S. Birds of the Rockies. Chicago: McClurg, 1902.
Langdon, R. C. The lark bunting. Bird-Lore, 1933, 35, 139–142.
Sclater, W. L. A history of the birds of Colorado. London: Witherly, 1912.
Stillwell, J. E. & Stillwell, N. J. Notes on the song of the lark bunting. Wilson Bulletin, 1955, 67, 138–139.
Whittle, C. L. Miscellaneous bird notes from Montana. Condor, 1922, 24, 73–81.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This paper is sponsored by Raymond C. Miles, who takes full editorial responsibility for its contents. The authors thank D. Chiszar for his advice during this study.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Taylor, S.V., Ashe, V.M. The flight display and other behaviors of male lark buntings (Calamospiza melanochorys). Bull. Psychon. Soc. 7, 527–529 (1976). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03337272
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03337272