Does song repertoire size in Common Blackbirds play a role in an intra-sexual context?

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

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Does song repertoire size in Common Blackbirds play a role in an intra-sexual context? / Hesler, Nana; Mundry, Roger; Dabelsteen, Torben.

In: Journal of Ornithology, Vol. 152, No. 3, 2011, p. 591-601.

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

Hesler, N, Mundry, R & Dabelsteen, T 2011, 'Does song repertoire size in Common Blackbirds play a role in an intra-sexual context?', Journal of Ornithology, vol. 152, no. 3, pp. 591-601. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-010-0618-5

APA

Hesler, N., Mundry, R., & Dabelsteen, T. (2011). Does song repertoire size in Common Blackbirds play a role in an intra-sexual context? Journal of Ornithology, 152(3), 591-601. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-010-0618-5

Vancouver

Hesler N, Mundry R, Dabelsteen T. Does song repertoire size in Common Blackbirds play a role in an intra-sexual context? Journal of Ornithology. 2011;152(3):591-601. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-010-0618-5

Author

Hesler, Nana ; Mundry, Roger ; Dabelsteen, Torben. / Does song repertoire size in Common Blackbirds play a role in an intra-sexual context?. In: Journal of Ornithology. 2011 ; Vol. 152, No. 3. pp. 591-601.

Bibtex

@article{ada743fc13f24285ac2db1b4dbe0c9cf,
title = "Does song repertoire size in Common Blackbirds play a role in an intra-sexual context?",
abstract = "Bird song is thought to have a function in both inter- and intra-sexual contexts with song complexity serving as an honest signal of male quality. Theory predicts that males use repertoire sizes to estimate rivals{\textquoteright} fighting ability. Here we tested whether element repertoire size plays a role in an intra-sexual context in the Common Blackbird Turdus merula, a songbird with a large repertoire. In a territory intrusion playback experiment, we broadcast Common Blackbird song with different element repertoire sizes to territorial males. The test birds did not respond differently to the different repertoire sizes. This was also the case when we considered the test birds{\textquoteright} own repertoire sizes in the analysis. Thus, we found no evidence for the hypothesis that males use repertoire size for estimating rivals{\textquoteright} fighting force. However, this does not exclude the possibility that repertoire size plays a role in different intra-sexual contexts in Common Blackbirds. In the discussion, we address alternative scenarios.",
author = "Nana Hesler and Roger Mundry and Torben Dabelsteen",
year = "2011",
doi = "10.1007/s10336-010-0618-5",
language = "English",
volume = "152",
pages = "591--601",
journal = "Journal fur Ornithologie",
issn = "0021-8375",
publisher = "Springer",
number = "3",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Does song repertoire size in Common Blackbirds play a role in an intra-sexual context?

AU - Hesler, Nana

AU - Mundry, Roger

AU - Dabelsteen, Torben

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - Bird song is thought to have a function in both inter- and intra-sexual contexts with song complexity serving as an honest signal of male quality. Theory predicts that males use repertoire sizes to estimate rivals’ fighting ability. Here we tested whether element repertoire size plays a role in an intra-sexual context in the Common Blackbird Turdus merula, a songbird with a large repertoire. In a territory intrusion playback experiment, we broadcast Common Blackbird song with different element repertoire sizes to territorial males. The test birds did not respond differently to the different repertoire sizes. This was also the case when we considered the test birds’ own repertoire sizes in the analysis. Thus, we found no evidence for the hypothesis that males use repertoire size for estimating rivals’ fighting force. However, this does not exclude the possibility that repertoire size plays a role in different intra-sexual contexts in Common Blackbirds. In the discussion, we address alternative scenarios.

AB - Bird song is thought to have a function in both inter- and intra-sexual contexts with song complexity serving as an honest signal of male quality. Theory predicts that males use repertoire sizes to estimate rivals’ fighting ability. Here we tested whether element repertoire size plays a role in an intra-sexual context in the Common Blackbird Turdus merula, a songbird with a large repertoire. In a territory intrusion playback experiment, we broadcast Common Blackbird song with different element repertoire sizes to territorial males. The test birds did not respond differently to the different repertoire sizes. This was also the case when we considered the test birds’ own repertoire sizes in the analysis. Thus, we found no evidence for the hypothesis that males use repertoire size for estimating rivals’ fighting force. However, this does not exclude the possibility that repertoire size plays a role in different intra-sexual contexts in Common Blackbirds. In the discussion, we address alternative scenarios.

U2 - 10.1007/s10336-010-0618-5

DO - 10.1007/s10336-010-0618-5

M3 - Journal article

VL - 152

SP - 591

EP - 601

JO - Journal fur Ornithologie

JF - Journal fur Ornithologie

SN - 0021-8375

IS - 3

ER -

ID: 40304462