Comparative Breeding Behavior of Ammospiza caudacuta and A. maritimaWoolfenden, Glen Everett
Science
Comparative Breeding Behavior of Ammospiza caudacuta and A. maritima
Woolfenden, Glen Everett
Sparrows
Seaside Sparrows began singing the morning after their nocturnal
arrival. For resident birds, singing is at its maximum at this time and
is maintained at a high level throughout incubation. At hatching of the
eggs, singing declines sharply; males then are busy aiding in care of
the young. Males that have successfully reared a brood rarely sing
after the young leave the nest.
Sharp-tailed Sparrows sang infrequently when they first arrived, and
singing did not reach its peak until late May. By August singing had
almost ceased in this species.
Song of the Seaside Sparrow functions importantly in the establishment
and maintenance of its territory. Newly-arrived males sing vigorously.
In the Sharp-tailed Sparrow I think song is merely an expression of
sexual excitement because song does not reach maximum frequency until
the females arrive and become receptive to the males.
Differences in song correspond to differences in territorial behavior.
The distinct, loud song, sung often and from exposed perches, which is
frequently alternated with that of the nearest competitor, is given by
the Seaside Sparrow, a territorial species. The indistinct, quiet song,
sung infrequently and often from unexposed places belongs to the
Sharp-tailed Sparrow, a non-territorial species.
_Calls_
Seaside Sparrows give a soft, lisping call note, probably the one
referred to by Saunders as a squeaky _tseep_ (1951:258), that functions
as a social call. When migrants were numerous on the marshes at
Chadwick I heard this note often. At Lavallette I did not hear it
until June 30 (work began there on June 16) and then it was from an
unbanded, non-resident bird. In late July and in August the number of
non-resident sparrows increased and the social call was heard often. I
never heard a resident bird give this call. On December 29, 1955, on a
marsh at the mouth of the Manasquan River on the Monmouth-Ocean County
line, a group of wintering Seaside Sparrows frequently used this call.
I do not know whether the Sharp-tailed Sparrow has a comparable call.
Both species emit alarm notes. Although variable, the Seaside Sparrow
has two general types. One, recorded by me as a short _chip_ or _tick_
was given by both sexes whenever I was near a nest. The other type, a
high, sharp _tsip_, is indicative of a higher degree of excitement.
When I captured young already out of the nest, or when I investigated
nests containing young old enough to depart, the adults gave this call.
The tail is jerked downward each time this note is given.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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