Open Access
How to translate text using browser tools
5 February 2021 Species and sex differences in vocalizations between sex-role reversed shorebirds, Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa) and Wattled Jacana (J. jacana)
Evan J. Buck, Toni Brown, Gina Zwicky, Elizabeth P. Derryberry, Sara E. Lipshutz
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Species-specific vocalizations can act as a reproductive isolating mechanism between closely related populations. We analyzed vocal differences between 2 hybridizing species of sex-role reversed polyandrous shorebirds, the Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa) and Wattled Jacana (J. jacana). We found that Northern Jacana calls have higher fundamental frequency and peak frequency than Wattled Jacana calls. We also compared calls between females and males, as both jacana species are sex-role reversed and females compete for male mates. Males produce calls with a higher fundamental and peak frequency and shorter notes than females. These results suggest that vocal differences between Northern and Wattled jacanas have the potential to act as a behavioral mediator of interspecific interactions, and that sex differences in vocalizations may relate to sex-role reversal in territorial defense and mate attraction.

Evan J. Buck, Toni Brown, Gina Zwicky, Elizabeth P. Derryberry, and Sara E. Lipshutz "Species and sex differences in vocalizations between sex-role reversed shorebirds, Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa) and Wattled Jacana (J. jacana)," The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 132(2), 343-351, (5 February 2021). https://doi.org/10.1676/1559-4491-132.2.343
Received: 10 September 2019; Accepted: 3 September 2020; Published: 5 February 2021
KEYWORDS
hybridization
jacanas
sex differences
sex-role reversal
shorebird
vocalization
Back to Top