Date of Award:

5-1974

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Wildland Resources

Department name when degree awarded

Zoology

Committee Chair(s)

Keith L. Dixon

Committee

Keith L. Dixon

Committee

James A. Gessaman

Committee

David F. Balph

Abstract

Studies of vocalizations in a montane population of Green-Tailed Towhees were conducted during the summer months of 1971 and 1972 in Cache County, Utah. The song and call repertoiries of 10 breeding pairs were recorded and analyzed on a sound spectograph.

Males averaged 8.7 different song and 18.2 different not types. Song variation on the population level is high (58 different songs) but the sharing of these songs among the males is low (22.4). Populational note structure is equally diverse but reveals a greater degree of sharing (75%).

Both males and females used three calls, the meow, tick, and poitt, whereas at least three more, the rattle, tst-tst-tst, and skee-skee-skee, are used only by the female.

Recoginition of the songs of conspecifies apparently is promoted by the distinctive introductory note, the duration of the song and the abruptness of changes within it.

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