Abstract:
The song of the little bunting from different parts of the species area was analysed. There was found to be a very high variability:
- Song bouts include 2 to 4 song types. Each song type consisted of phrases, which followed in stereotyped order.
- The duration of songs ranged between 1.0 and 2.8 sec.
- After 3 to 14 songs the birds switch to another song type. During the changing of song type only in a few cases could intermediate forms between two types be observed.
- Five song types could be found in the same matter in different individuals from different parts of the area.
It is concluded that the repertoire of the species is a pool of song types. The variability is based on the learning of the whole song type as a pattern.