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Territorial, courtship and duet songs of the Cuban Grassquit (Tiaris canora)

Reviergesang Weibchengesang und Duettgesang beim Kleinen Kubafinken

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Summary

Two song types were described for the Cuban Grassquit,Tiaris canora. A short song characterized by buzzy and harmonic rich syllables increased in the presence of males and was probably primarily aggressive in function. A second, longer song type, characterized by many pure-toned syllables, increased in the presence of females and was probably sexual in function. Pairs also participated in duet singing against territorial rivals, or as greeting ceremonies between mates after a period of separation.

Duetting in Cuban Grassquits probably functions in maintenance of the pair bond. Comparisons were made with other avian species having different song types serving different functions.

Zusammenfassung

Das Männchen des Kleinen Kubafinken (Tiaris canora) verfügt über zwei verschiedene Gesangsformen: Einen kurzen Gesang mit summenden, harmonischen und vollen Tönen, dessen Häufigkeit bei Anwesenheit anderer ♂ ♂ zunimmt und der wahrscheinlich in erster Linie eine aggressive Funktion erfüllt; und einen längeren Gesangstyp mit vielen aus reinen Tönen zusammengesetzten Silben, dessen Häufigkeit bei Anwesentheit von ♀ zunimmt und dem offenbar eine sexuelle Funktion zukommt. Duettgesänge zwischen den Partnern eines Paares werden sowohl gegenüber Rivalen als auch als Begrüßungszeremonie nach einer Zeit der Trennung vorgetragen. Sie dienen wahrscheinlich dem Festigen des Paarzusammenhaltes.

In der abschließenden Diskussion werden die Befunde an Kubafinken mit denen an anderen Vogelarten verglichen, die ebenfalls über verschiedene Gesänge mit unterschiedlichen Funktionen verfügen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Moore Laboratory of Zoology, Occidental College, 90041, Los Angeles, California

    Luis F. Baptista

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  1. Luis F. Baptista
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Baptista, L.F. Territorial, courtship and duet songs of the Cuban Grassquit (Tiaris canora). J Ornithol 119, 91–101 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01642973

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