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Is bird song a reliable signal of aggressive intent? A reply

Publication ,  Journal Article
Searcy, WA; Anderson, RC; Nowicki, S
Published in: Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
May 1, 2008

We advocate assessing the reliability of signals of aggressive intent by eliciting aggressive signaling from a subject, giving the subject an opportunity to attack a model, and testing whether the subject's displays predict a subsequent attack. Using this design, we found that most singing behaviors are poor predictors of attack in song sparrows (Melospiza melodia). Laidre and Vehrencamp (Behav Ecol Sociobiol, DOI 10.1007/s00265-007-0539-3, 2008) suggested altering our experimental design to make the model more realistic; it remains to be seen whether such design changes would change the association between display and attack. Laidre and Vehrencamp (Behav Ecol Sociobiol, DOI 10.1007/s00265-007-0539-3, 2008) also suggested that the reliability of soft song, the one display that predicts attack in song sparrows, can be explained by a vulnerability cost. We question the rationale for a vulnerability cost for this display and suggest instead that soft song has a competing functions cost, in that, by using soft song to counter an intruder, a male sacrifices other possible functions of vocal signaling. © 2007 Springer-Verlag.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

DOI

ISSN

0340-5443

Publication Date

May 1, 2008

Volume

62

Issue

7

Start / End Page

1213 / 1216

Related Subject Headings

  • Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
  • 41 Environmental sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 30 Agricultural, veterinary and food sciences
  • 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences
 

Citation

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Searcy, W. A., Anderson, R. C., & Nowicki, S. (2008). Is bird song a reliable signal of aggressive intent? A reply. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 62(7), 1213–1216. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-008-0569-5
Searcy, W. A., R. C. Anderson, and S. Nowicki. “Is bird song a reliable signal of aggressive intent? A reply.” Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 62, no. 7 (May 1, 2008): 1213–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-008-0569-5.
Searcy WA, Anderson RC, Nowicki S. Is bird song a reliable signal of aggressive intent? A reply. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 2008 May 1;62(7):1213–6.
Searcy, W. A., et al. “Is bird song a reliable signal of aggressive intent? A reply.” Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, vol. 62, no. 7, May 2008, pp. 1213–16. Scopus, doi:10.1007/s00265-008-0569-5.
Searcy WA, Anderson RC, Nowicki S. Is bird song a reliable signal of aggressive intent? A reply. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 2008 May 1;62(7):1213–1216.
Journal cover image

Published In

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

DOI

ISSN

0340-5443

Publication Date

May 1, 2008

Volume

62

Issue

7

Start / End Page

1213 / 1216

Related Subject Headings

  • Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
  • 41 Environmental sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 30 Agricultural, veterinary and food sciences
  • 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences