Abstract
We studied the acoustical characteristics of calls made by nestling American Kestrels (Falco sparverius). A total of 563 vocal samples was obtained from 88 chicks (49 males and 39 females) from 20 broods. Thirteen frequency, three numerical, and two temporal characteristics were measured using audio spectrography. Discriminant function analysis failed to distinguish the calls of male and female chicks, but univariate and principal component analyses suggest that vocal ontogeny proceeds more rapidly in males than in females. The acoustical characteristics of call notes changed in a consistent manner as nestlings matured, and by day 16 chicks produced calls similar to those of adults.
| Translated title of the contribution | Vocal development in American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) nestlings |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Pages (from-to) | 37-43 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Raptor Research |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| State | Published - Mar 2003 |
Keywords
- American Kestrel
- Development
- Falco sparverius
- Vocalization