Vocal repertoire and group-specific signature in the Smooth-billed Ani, Crotophaga ani Linnaeus, 1758 (Cuculiformes, Aves)

Authors

  • Ronan de Azevedo Monteiro Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), Departamento de Biologia, Centro de Ciências Exatas, Naturais e da Saúde (CCENS). Alegre, ES, Brasil. http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7769-8716
  • Carolina Demetrio Ferreira Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), Departamento de Biologia, Centro de Ciências Exatas, Naturais e da Saúde (CCENS). Alegre, ES, Brasil. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1152-6791
  • Gilmar Perbiche-Neves Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR), Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS), Departamento de Hidrobiologia (DHB). São Carlos, SP, Brasil. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5025-2703

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/1807-0205/2021.61.59

Keywords:

Vocal communication, Behavior, Vocal plasticity, Vocal group signature

Abstract

Vocal plasticity reflects the ability of animals to vary vocalizations according to context (vocal repertoire) as well as to develop vocal convergence (vocal group signature) in the interaction of members in social groups. This feature has been largely reported for oscine, psittacine and trochilid birds, but little has been investigated in birds that present innate vocalization. The smooth-billed ani (Crotophaga ani) is a social bird that lives in groups between two and twenty individuals, and which presents innate vocalization. Here we analyzed the vocal repertoire of this species during group activities, and further investigated the existence of a vocal group signature. The study was conducted in the Southeast of Brazil between May 2017 and April 2018. Two groups of smooth-billed anis were followed, Guararema and Charqueada groups, and their vocalizations were recorded and contextualized as to the performed behavior. The vocal repertoire was analyzed for its composition, context and acoustic variables. The acoustic parameters maximum peak frequency, maximum fundamental frequency, minimum frequency, maximum frequency and duration were analyzed. To verify the vocal signature of the group, we tested whether there was variation in the acoustic parameters between the monitored groups. We recorded ten vocalizations that constituted the vocal repertoire of the Smooth-billed Ani, five of which (“Ahnee”, “Whine”, “Pre-flight”, “Flight” and “Vigil”) were issued by the two groups and five exclusive to the Charqueada group. There were significant differences in the acoustic parameters for “Flight” and “Vigil” vocalizations between the groups, suggesting vocal group signature for these sounds. We established that the Smooth-billed Ani has a diverse vocal repertoire, with variations also occurring between groups of the same population. Moreover, we found evidence of vocal group signature in vocalizations used in the context of cohesion, defense and territory maintenance.

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Author Biography

  • Carolina Demetrio Ferreira, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), Departamento de Biologia, Centro de Ciências Exatas, Naturais e da Saúde (CCENS). Alegre, ES, Brasil.
    Porfessora da UFES com mestrado e doutorado na área de Zoologia com enfoque em Ornitologia. Possui experiência na área de ecologia de comunidades e conservação, comportamento e bioacústica.

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Published

2021-07-30

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Original Article

How to Cite

Monteiro, R. de A., Ferreira, C. D., & Perbiche-Neves, G. (2021). Vocal repertoire and group-specific signature in the Smooth-billed Ani, Crotophaga ani Linnaeus, 1758 (Cuculiformes, Aves). Papéis Avulsos De Zoologia, 61, e20216159. https://doi.org/10.11606/1807-0205/2021.61.59