Song Activity and Territory Quality in the Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra; With Comments on Mate Selection

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Abstract
Song activity, length of song period and nesting success were studied in the promiscuous corn bunting Milaria calandra in order to evaluate the significance of song. The quality of territories was assessed through duration of territory occupation and the habitat composition of territories. The corn bunting starts territorial behavior in high quality territories in winter. The large size dimorphism is suggested as a result of social dominance in winter flocks. Early occupation of territories may be a necessary cost in order to obtain the best territory. Territories were aggregated and high quality territories were situated in distribution centers near each other. These territories were small yet held a large amount of resources. The song activity of the males is suggested to function as a means of female attraction. Annual and diel song activity was high. Many females were recorded in territories belonging to males with a high song activity and the breeding success of females nesting in these territories was high. Successful males continued to sing late in the breeding season allowing attraction of renesting females and evaluation of breeding success of males by females. Males only invest in territorial behavior and copulations; the breeding activities are performed nearly exclusively by the female.