Territorial songs and calls of the oriental magpie robin Copsychus saularis

摘要

There are very few studies on acoustic communication of Indian birds. A systematic study was made on the physical characteristics of territorial songs and calls of an oriental avian species Copsychus saularis, the magpie robin. Songs and calls of 14 male individuals were recorded in their territories from January 1995 to November 1997. The territorial song was delivered during territory formation and throughout the breeding season. Out of 360 song samples recorded, 84 types of song phrases were identified. These phrases were composed of 3 to 10 types of elements. Calls were uttered mainly during the non-breeding season to defend food resources in winter territory. Songs and calls differed from each other in several parameters. Typically, songs had lower frequencies and higher pulse rates, which may facilitate long-range transmission when compared to calls, increasing the conspicuousness of the male magpie robin and advertising his location to competitors and potential mates during the breeding season. [References: 53]