Early Vocalizations of the Brown-headed Cowbird and Three Host Species
- 1 February 1987
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Cognizant, LLC in Bird Behavior
- Vol. 7 (1) , 27-30
- https://doi.org/10.3727/015613887791918132
Abstract
Vocalizations of nestling and newly fledged Brown-headed Cowbirds Molothrus ater from eight nests were recorded, analyzed and compared with those of the host''s young to determine if Cowbirds mimic their nest mates. Sonagrams showed that vocalizations of Cowbird, Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina, Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia and Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia were distinctly different in structure. The results indicated that young Cowbirds do not mimic the vocalizations of their foster species; and thus it appears that acceptance by the host is not dependent solely upon vocalizations by Cowbird young.This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:
- Behavioral Ecology of Fledgling Brown-Headed Cowbirds and Their HostsOrnithological Applications, 1983
- The Ecology and Behavior of the Prairie Warbler Dendroica discolorOrnithological Monographs, 1978
- Species Identification in the North American Cowbird: Appropriate Responses to Abnormal SongScience, 1977