Meeting Abstract
Song sharing is common among male songbirds, but the amount of song sharing between individuals varies depending on the geographical distance between territories. These variations are due to differences in dispersal distances combined with specific song learning periods. Thus, comparing spatial patterns of song sharing allows us to infer song learning strategies and dispersal behavior for even the rarest or most secretive species. Song learning and dispersal are unknown for the Near Threatened Bachman’s sparrow (Peucaea aestivalis), most likely because it spends much of its life hidden in the understory of pine flatwoods and prairies. Our objective was to compare the number of songs shared among male Bachman’s sparrows to understand broad patterns of song development and dispersal. From 2016 to 2018, we recorded adult male sparrows using targeted recording and long-term acoustic recorders, and we marked their locations. We determined their repertoires using a program developed in Matlab, and compared repertoires between males by visually comparing song spectrograms. Song sharing is greater at closer distances, especially for neighbors, and then declines at greater distances. These data suggest that Bachman’s sparrows are age-restricted learners, and that they attempt short dispersal distances but will disperse farther if suitable territories are not available. By understanding how these imperiled songbirds disperse, we can make better decisions about conserving their populations.
