Do smaller hummingbirds sing higher pitched songs


SOCIETY FOR INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
2021 VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING (VAM)
January 3 – Febuary 28, 2021

Meeting Abstract


19-1  Sat Jan 2  Do smaller hummingbirds sing higher pitched songs? Duque, FG*; Carruth, LL; Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA; Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA fduque1@gsu.edu http://fduque.com

Song variation in birds is influenced by multiple factors, creating the great diversity of vocal signals we have today. Evidence shows that body size can constrain the vocal range of a species so that the smaller an animal is, the higher the frequency (Hz) at which it vocalizes. Some hummingbirds vocalize above 8 kHz, beyond the vocal range of most birds. However, their body mass varies (4.85 – 8.2 g), and some are large compared to hummingbirds that do not produce any known high-frequency (HF) vocalizations. Here, we investigated whether there is an inverse relationship between body mass and fundamental frequency (F0) in the vocalizations of hummingbirds, including those that produce HF vocal signals. The linear regression analysis did not show a relationship between body mass (g) and the F0 (kHz) in the vocalizations of hummingbirds. Among all hummingbird species, the average weight is 5.32 g, SD 2.3 g; but some species producing HF vocalizations weigh more than the average, while the smallest hummingbirds produce no known HF calls. An analysis of the vocal range of each species shows that variation in frequency range is not associated with weight. Oreotrochilus chimborazo, for example, weighs 8.2 g and produces a chasing call with F0 = 4 kHz, while its HF song reaches F0 = 13.4 kHz. In contrast, some of the smallest species exhibit a vocal range comparable to that of the Giant Hummingbird. These results suggest that body mass is not a key component for variation in the frequency (kHz) of vocal production in these birds. In contrast, the position and morphology of the syrinx may be more relevant for understanding the role of physical constraints in the evolution of HF vocalizations in hummingbirds.

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