Diversity and function of vocalisations in the cooperatively breeding Chestnut-crowned Babbler
Jodie M. S. Crane A F , James L. Savage B C and Andrew F. Russell D E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
B Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK.
C Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands.
D Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter Cornwall Campus, Treliever Road, Penryn, TR10 9FE, UK.
E Fowlers Gap Arid Zone Research Station, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: jodie.m.s.crane@gmail.com
Emu 116(3) 241-253 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU15048
Submitted: 29 April 2015 Accepted: 28 November 2015 Published: 4 May 2016
Abstract
Vocalisations represent the primary mode of communication for most birds and vary greatly in form and function within and between species. Cataloguing the vocal repertoire of a species is a key foundation for behavioural research, as it provides both an objective measure of vocal complexity and a basis for further studies of vocal function. Here we present a descriptive catalogue of the vocal repertoire of the Chestnut-crowned Babbler (Pomatostomus ruficeps), a cooperatively breeding passerine endemic to inland south-eastern Australia. Using behavioural observations and simple methods of acoustic classification we identify and suggest functions for 13 main types of vocalisations, and also report five less common vocalisations that could not be assigned a unique function. Babblers possess no song, in the sense of a vocalisation primarily used for inter-group or territorial communication. The 13 calls with clear functions can be broadly classified into three alarm calls, five contact calls, and four social-interaction calls, with a final call used in both social and alarm contexts. This study represents the first catalogue of vocal repertoire in pomatostomid babblers, and aims to contribute to future comparative analyses of vocal complexity and inspire further work on the relationship between call structure and function.
Additional keywords: avian acoustics, Pomatostomidae, social brain hypothesis, social complexity hypothesis.
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