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Structural Variation in the Zebra Finch Distance Call
Author(s) -
Zann Richard
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
zeitschrift für tierpsychologie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.739
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-0310
pISSN - 0044-3573
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0310.1984.tb01372.x
Subject(s) - subspecies , variation (astronomy) , geographic variation , geography , demography , zoology , biology , population , sociology , astrophysics , physics
and Summary The distance calls (DC) of free‐living and recently captured zebra finches (ZF) were investigated in order to establish the extent of variation in the structure within and between individuals, colonies, sexes, geographic localities and subspecies. Most work was carried out on the Australian subspecies P. g. castanotis in south‐eastern Australia. The calls were analysed sonographically and analysis of two frequency and two temporal parameters were undertaken. The spectral structure of the calls was also assessed subjectively. The main findings are as follows:1 Each individual has its own uniquely structured DC. The calls of males are more distinct than those of females. 2 The differences between individuals are sufficiently large to expect that they could probably be perceived by individuals. 3 The DCs differ between the sexes. The female call is significantly longer. In P. g. castanotis the male call has two elements — a tonal element followed by a noise element; it also has fewer harmonics. The differences could be detected by ear. The Timor subspecies is thought to have lost the noise element. 4 Adjacent colonies have DCs that are not significantly different. 5 DCs from different and distant geographic localities are not significantly different except for a few locations where distinct local forms of the DC exist. The changing composition of colonies is thought to erode the development of dialects. 6 The DCs of both subspecies have the same basic complex tone with the same harmonic configuration. The calls of males are of the same duration in both subspecies but those of females are longer in P. g. castanotis . The calls of P. g. guttata have a higher fundamental frequency, fewer harmonics and a higher emphasized frequency (FMA). 7 The DC in P. g. castanotis is probably used to keep pairs together in the large flocks. It may also be used to detect relatives.