Date of Award
2010
Publication Type
Master Thesis
Degree Name
M.Sc.
Department
Biological Sciences
Keywords
Biology, Ecology.
Supervisor
Mennill, Daniel (Biological Sciences)
Rights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Abstract
In many tropical birds, breeding partners combine their songs in coordinated vocal duets. In species that have song repertoires, duetting birds may follow answering rules where they combine particular songs from their repertoire with particular songs in their partner's repertoires. These associations are called duet codes. I explored the answering rules and duet codes of Rufous-and-white Wrens (Thryophilus rufalbus), a Neotropical duetting songbird. I analysed over 5,000 duets recorded over seven years from a colour-banded population of Rufous-and-white Wrens. I found that pairs follow duet codes, and their answering rules remain consistent between years and partnerships. I found that females adhere more strongly to answering rules than males. Different pairs of Rufous-and-white Wrens followed the same answering rules. My findings enhance our understanding of duet function, communication in tropical animals, and the evolution of song repertoires.
Recommended Citation
Osmun, Anneka, "Duet Codes and Answering Rules in the Rufous-and-White Wren (Thryophilus Rufalbus)" (2010). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 298.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/298