The role of alarm responses in the formation of mixed-species flocks of heathland birds

1981 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. Greig-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Species ◽  
Mixed Species Flocks ◽  
Species Flocks

Using playback to test leadership in mixed-species flocks and compare flocking with mobbing

2021 ◽  
Vol 180 ◽  
pp. 151-166
Author(s):  
Liping Zhou ◽  
Indika Peabotuwage ◽  
Kang Luo ◽  
Rui-Chang Quan ◽  
Eben Goodale
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Species ◽  
Mixed Species Flocks ◽  
Species Flocks

Why Do Brown-Headed Cowbirds Perform the Head-Down Display?

The Auk ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas W. Scott ◽  
Judith M. Grumstrup-Scott
Keyword(s):  
Observational Data ◽  
Agonistic Behavior ◽  
Mixed Species ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Mixed Species Flocks ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Species Flocks

Abstract Four hypotheses for the function of the head-down display performed by Brown-headed Cowbirds were tested with observational data from free-ranging and captive cowbirds. Free-ranging cowbirds performed 284 interspecific and four intraspecific displays during 59.2 daylight hours while roosting in mixed-species flocks adjacent to feeding areas. The most common recipients of displays, female Red-winged Blackbirds and House Sparrows, preened cowbirds during 25 displays. Cowbirds that had just been preened displayed more often than those that had not recently been preened. Captive cowbirds displayed intraspecifically 475 times during 13.3 h, and dominant captive birds displayed more often than their subordinates. The following hypothesis was proposed to explain the display's function: the head-down display of Brown-headed Cowbirds is an appeasing agonistic behavior, the displayor is most often dominant to the recipient, and subsequent displaying is stimulated by interspecific preening. The display may function in: (a) obtaining food, (b) minimizing roosting energetics, and/or (c) establishing flock order.

Temperature and vegetation complexity structure mixed-species flocks along a gradient of elevation in the tropical Andes

The Auk ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flavia A Montaño-Centellas ◽  
Harrison H Jones
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Abiotic Stress ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Taxonomic Diversity ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Tropical Andes ◽  
Mixed Species ◽  
Mixed Species Flocks ◽  
Species Flocks

Abstract Mixed-species flocks constitute community modules that can help test mechanisms driving changes to community composition across environmental gradients. Here, we examined elevational patterns of flock diversity (species richness, taxonomic diversity, species, and guild composition) and asked if these patterns were reflections of the full bird community at a given elevation (open-membership hypothesis), or if they were instead structured by environmental variables. We surveyed both the overall avian community and mixed-species flocks across an undisturbed elevational gradient (~1,350–3,550 m) in the Bolivian Andes. We then tested for the role of temperature (a surrogate for abiotic stress), resource diversity (arthropods, fruits), and foraging niche diversity (vegetation vertical complexity) in structuring these patterns. Patterns for the overall and flocking communities were similar, supporting our open-membership hypothesis that Andean flocks represent dynamic, unstructured aggregations. Membership openness and the resulting flock composition, however, also varied with elevation in response to temperature and vegetation complexity. We found a mid-elevation peak in flock species richness, size, and Shannon’s diversity at ~2,300 m. The transition of flocking behavior toward a more open-membership system at this elevation may explain a similar peak in the proportion of insectivores joining flocks. At high elevations, increasing abiotic stress and decreasing fruit diversity led more generalist, gregarious tanagers (Thraupidae) to join flocks, resulting in larger yet more even flocks alongside a loss of vegetation structure. At lower elevations, flock species richness increased with greater vegetation complexity, but a greater diversity of foraging niches resulted in flocks that were more segregated into separate canopy and understory sub-types. This segregation likely results from increased costs of interspecific competition and activity matching (i.e., constraints on movement and foraging rate) for insectivores. Mid-elevation flocks (~2,300 m) seemed, therefore, to benefit from both the open-membership composition of high-elevation flocks and the high vegetation complexity of mid- and low-elevation forests.

Context-specific behavior serves as a mechanism of interspecific cohesion in mixed-species flocks

The Auk ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean M Williams ◽  
Catherine A Lindell
Keyword(s):  
Flight Distance ◽  
Species Flock ◽  
Mixed Species ◽  
Specific Behavior ◽  
Call Type ◽  
Interspecific Associations ◽  
Mixed Species Flocks ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Species Flocks

Abstract We investigated whether context-specific behavior is responsible for the cohesion of mixed-species flocks of antshrikes and antwrens in Amazonian Peru. Antshrikes perform a behavior while spatially repositioning, to which antwrens respond by approaching. The cohesion of interspecific associations requires communication, although the mechanisms often are unexplored. In monospecific groups, cohesion among individuals is maintained with actions or vocalizations given in a certain context. Dusky-throated Antshrikes (Thamnomanes ardesiacus) vocalize while in flight and the number of times they vocalize covaries with the flight distance. We refer to this pairing of flight and vocalization as repositioning behavior. Furthermore, antshrikes pair a different call type with perching, which we refer to as perching behavior. We followed Long-winged (Myrmotherula longipennis) and White-flanked Antwrens (M. axillaris) and recorded their response following natural vocalizations (no playback used) given by the antshrikes. Long-winged Antwrens, but not White-flanked, flew toward an antshrike significantly sooner and were more likely to approach the antshrikes after the repositioning behavior than after perching behavior. In addition, Long-winged Antwrens, but not White-flanked, flew toward an antshrike sooner after a longer series of repositioning calls than after a shorter series. We did not distinguish between the Long-winged Antwrens’ response as a function of movement vs. vocalizations of the antshrikes, although we argue that vocalizations are likely a more important communication component of repositioning behavior than movement. It remains unclear whether the antshrikes are deliberately signaling the Long-winged Antwrens or the antwrens are taking advantage of the repositioning behavior; active signaling is possible since antshrikes benefit from antwrens. White-flanked Antwrens may be less responsive to the antshrikes since they have a lower propensity to occur in a mixed-species flock. The results indicate that the repositioning behavior of Dusky-throated Antshrikes is a key mechanism of interspecific cohesion of Amazonian mixed-species flocks of the understory.

Do racket-tailed drongos make tree guards for their nest trees?

Behaviour ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 157 (14-15) ◽  
pp. 1239-1244
Author(s):  
Samira Agnihotri ◽  
Marian Kethegowda ◽  
Jadeswamy
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Forest Trees ◽  
Tree Trunk ◽  
Mixed Species ◽  
Old World ◽  
Mixed Species Flocks ◽  
Old World Tropics ◽  
Species Flocks ◽  
Nesting Season

Abstract Greater racket-tailed drongos are renowned for their splendid mimicking abilities, and for their significant roles within mixed species flocks in the Old World tropics. Yet, we know little about their basic ecology and breeding behaviour. Here we describe a set of unique behaviours of these drongos during their nesting season. Racket-tailed drongos nested in trees in an open patch of forest, often returning to the same tree year after year. The nesting pair also smoothened the bark of the nest tree trunk with their beaks. These findings suggest that the nest tree is a crucial resource for this species, and have implications for the cognitive abilities of drongos, as well as for hitherto unknown interactions between an avian species and tropical forest trees.

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