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The vocal systems of two nocturnal burrowing petrels, the White‐chinned Procellaria aequinoctialis and the Grey P. cinerea
Author(s) -
BROOKE M. de L.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-919x.1986.tb02702.x
Subject(s) - burrow , petrel , nocturnal , white (mutation) , zoology , sexual dimorphism , biology , ecology , geography , predation , seabird , biochemistry , gene
I studied the calls of White‐chinned Petrels Procellaria aequinoctialis and Grey Petrels P. cinerea at the Prince Edward Islands in the Southern Ocean. White‐chinned Petrels gave two calls. One, the Wheezy call, was usually given from within breeding burrows, was given in response to playback of strange (= non‐mate) calls, and probably served a burrow defence function. The other call, the Rattle call, was uttered roughly as often on the ground as from within the burrow. This call was mostly given by males and probably served as sexual advertisement. The one identified call type of the Grey Petrel was given in the same circumstances as the Wheezy call of the White‐chinned Petrel. In both species there was evidence of mate recognition of calls. Birds tended to remain silent to the playback of the mate's call, whereas they responded vocally to strange calls. This vocal system, where both sexes share two call types but where sexual dimorphism in call is absent, has not been described before for petrels. Possible reasons for the variation in petrel vocal systems are discussed.