Birds produce a variety of vocalizations ranging in function from attracting a mate to alerting others of danger. One vocalization of Tachycineta bicolor (Tree Swallow), the chatter call, is reported to serve as both a mate-attraction call and a nest-defense call. We used playback techniques to investigate the nest-defense behavior of Tree Swallows to calls of Toxostoma rufum (Brown Thrasher; control) and Sialia sialis (Eastern Bluebird; nest competitor), and Tree Swallow shriek (alarm call) and chatter calls. We measured time spent foraging, remaining in the nest box, and on nest defense. Tree Swallows spent 80% of their time on nest defense in response to the chatter call. The chatter-call and shriek-call nest-defense responses were nearly identical. Our data show that the chatter call functions as an alarm call and elicits nest-defense behavior.
How to translate text using browser tools
31 January 2019
Nest-Defense Behavior in Response to the Chatter Call in Tachycineta bicolor (Tree Swallow)
J. Luke Phillips,
Wynn F. Haslam,
Alyssa E. Ford,
Richard A. Rowe
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

Northeastern Naturalist
Vol. 26 • No. 1
March 2019
Vol. 26 • No. 1
March 2019