A CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF SINGING BEHAVIOR IN MALE TUFTED TITMICE

Recent studies have revealed that singing by male passerines may serve a variety of functions, including, by not limited to, mate attraction and territory defense. Examination of singing rates throughout the br eeding season, and the contexts in which Tufted Titmice (Parus bicolor ) were observed singing, suggest that male song may be used to establi sh and maintain territories, coordinate activities at the nest and wit h fledged young, and tutor fledged young. Male titmice also appeared t o alter the characteristics of songs to enhance communication with con specifics. Titmice uttered shorter songs at higher rates and sang with greater versatility when near conspecific males, possibly providing i nformation about the probability of interacting. There were few correl ation between particular song types and specific breeding stages or be havioral contexts. However, male titmice often matched song types when countersinging with neighboring males. By permitting changes in singi ng versatility and the matching of a neighbor's song type, song type r epertories may enhance communication between conspecific males.