Motte Rimrock Reserve

25 Feb, 02 AM - 25 Feb, 07 AM

Vocal learning, the ability to learn to produce vocalization heard in the social environment, has evolved several times in various taxa of birds and mammals. Parrots (Order Psttachiformes), oscine songbirds (Order Passeriformes), and at least some hummingbirds (Family Trochilidae) are vocal learners; of these, hummingbirds are the least studied. Intraspecific, geographically correlated variation in song structure (i.e., song dialect), has been documented in hummingbirds, however it is not known whether such variation is transmitted through cultural inheritance, or is due to genetic differences between dialect groups. The goals of my research are to identify dialect groups of the Anna?s Hummingbird (Calypte anna), a species widespread in coastal California, and to measure gene flow between these dialect groups. If it is the case that dialect groups can only maintain their song variant by possessing a unique set of alleles, then gene flow between dialects must be minimal. Likewise, if dialect groups frequently interbreed, or if individuals frequently migrate between dialect groups, then relatively stable dialects could only be maintained through mimicry of adult, resident birds by juvenile or migrant individuals, which would imply that this species is capable of vocal learning. This study will be carried out on six sites with natural populations of Anna?s Hummingbirds, with song recordings (to detect dialect groups), and DNA samples (feathers) gathered at each site. It is expected that distinct dialect groups will show little, if any, genetic differentiation from each other, which will provide strong evidence for vocal learning in this species.

Visit #24294 @Motte Rimrock Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 23243 | Research

Vocal Learning in Anna's Hummingbird

graduate_student - California State University (CSU), Fullerton

Reservation Members(s)

Mark Engeln Feb 25, 2011 (1 days)
Mark Engeln Feb 25, 2011 (1 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Day Use of Grounds 2 Feb 25 (5 hours)
Motte Laboratory Space 2 Feb 25 (5 hours)