Daily organization of vocalizations of forest-edge birds in Wisconsin

Abstract

The daily patterning of vocalizations was determined for 15 species of forest-edge birds at the UWM Field Station. Species that were predominately callers (gave few songs) had very erratic patterns of vocalizations. Species that were primarily singers had distinct morning peaks in singing ("dawn chorus") and, for most species, smaller evening peaks. Some of the singers also had small mid-afternoon peaks when the overall singing rates were low. With the exception of the Field Sparrow, which had a peak before most other species, and the towhee, which had a peak after most other species, there was little interspecific variation in the timing of morning peaks.