Unravelling the mystery of the Mt Mulligan ‘mystery call’: analysis of a reported record of a Buff-breasted Button-quail vocalisation suggests misidentification with Painted Button-quail
| Posted: |
19/07/2023 |
| Author(s): |
James Watson, Nicholas Leseberg, Patrick Webster, Stephen Murphy |
The Buff-breasted Button-quail Turnix olivii has not been definitively recorded since 1924. In 2017, Mathieson and Smith published details of a claimed sighting of the species near Mt Mulligan, north Queensland. These observers subsequently recorded and, in 2019, published details of a ‘mystery call’, a series of deep, booming vocalisations, which they suggested could be the first recordings of the vocalisations of a Buff-breasted Button-quail. In support of their claim, they presented three arguments: (1) the ‘mystery call’ is distinct from those of all other co-occurring species; (2) it fits the descriptions of the only known first-hand descriptions of the Buff-breasted Button-quail’s vocalisation, and (3) it was successfully used in call playback to attract a pair of Buff-breasted Button-quail. We examined the structure, frequency and temporally-based parameters of the ‘mystery call’ in comparison with descriptions of other button-quail vocalisations, namely those of Painted Button-quail T. varius, Red-backed button-quail T. maculosus, Little Button-quail T. velox and Chestnut-backed Button-quail T. castanotus. We found that the ‘mystery call’ falls within the variation documented for vocalisations of the Painted Button-quail. In addition, the ‘mystery call’ may be a poor match for the call of the Buff-breasted Button-quail based on interpretation of the only existing first-hand descriptions of that species’ vocalisation. Furthermore, we used the ‘mystery call’ extensively throughout north Queensland in call playback surveys and only the Painted Button-quail responded. Our evidence therefore suggests that the ‘mystery call’ is attributable to a Painted Button-quail and not a Buff-breasted Button-quail. Our findings raise doubts over the claimed sighting of a Buff-breasted Button-quail at Mt Mulligan.
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