DIEL TEMPORAL VOCALIZATION PATTERNS IN THE MISTLETOEBIRD (Dicaeum hirundinaceum) AND SEASONAL ABUNDANCE RELATIVE TO THE FLOWERING AND FRUITING OF THE MISTLETOE Dendrophthoe vitellina
| Posted: |
08/08/2021 |
| Author(s): |
Allen Keast |
Mistletoebirds inhabiting open eucalypt forest at Ebenezer, near Windsor, New South Wales,
vocalized maximally from about 15 minutes before, until two hours after, sunrise. This contrasted with
most other species whose peak vocalizations were before sunrise. There was negligible singing
through the day, as in other species. An annual influx of birds into the areas of flowering, then fruiting,
mistletoe (
Oendrophthoe vitellina) was documented annually in late November-early December over
five summers using levels of territorial song. Bird numbers were high during years of good mistletoe
abundance and productivity, low in the poor years that followed plant die-off. Seasonal movements
relative to the berry production cycle in mistletoe are confirmed as a major adaptation in Mistletoebirds.
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