Associated vocalizations to colonial behaviour of Cacicus chrysonotus leucoramphus (Icteridae) in Colombia

Abstract

In order to assess the association between the vocalizations and the displayed behaviors of the Golden-shouldered Mountain Cacique (Cacicus chrysonotus leucoramphus), we sampled both acoustic and behavioral features at three sites in the Andes of Nariño, southern Colombia. We obtained seven vocalization types, six of them associated with at least one of the three identified behavioral categories (vigilance, alertness, and territorial defense), and one linked with a courtship exhibition. Vocalizations with higher values of bandwidth and frequency modulations were associated with territorial behavior, whereas those with lower values of bandwidth and few frequency modulations were associated with vigilance and alert. Results showed similarities in the acoustic structure of vocalizations and the related social context with other species as the C. cela and C. haemorrhous. C. c. leucoramphus uses specific types of vocalizations in a particular social context, with some vocalizations used in different behaviors. This study describes for the first time the social context in which vocalizations are associated with their behaviors.

Keywords

• birds
• bioacoustics
• coloniality
• social behavior
• song