There is a generalization that the recognition ability of birds on the basis of song is weaker in species with larger song repertoires. Experiments were conducted to determine whether territorial male Oriental Magpie Robin, a bird with large song repertoires, discriminates among neighbour, stranger and self songs. Study was carried out in the natural habitat of the subjects during their peak breeding phase (May-June) in 2008 in Haridwar (29°55’ N, 78°08’ E) town of Uttarakhand state, India. Nine males were tested twice each for each song category and in all the cases songs were broadcast from the territory boundary shared by the subject male and the neighbour. Subjects responded aggressively to the songs of each category i.e. they tried to approach the loudspeaker faster and came closer, increased the song rate and song complexity and did more flights. Males seemed equally aggressive to the all song categories, as we found no significant difference in responses among treatments. The results of the present study support the hypothesis that large song repertoires hinder individual recognition by song in birds.
Neighbour-stranger recognition in the oriental magpie robin, Copsychus saularis [abstract]
(2012).
Neighbour-stranger recognition in the oriental magpie robin, Copsychus saularis [abstract]. Bioacoustics,
Volume 21
(1):
28
Abstract: