Neurobehavioral studies of Dumetella carolinensis in the Northeast United States

Abstract

Behavioral studies of Grey Catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis) have been conducted over two seasons using data collection, including playback calls, to learn about the neurobehavior of mimicking birds. First birds are identified by their signals, and detailed signal processing techniques are used to examine the characteristics of the bird calls using call time-frequency signal dispersion and relating them to behavior. Catbird songs often include frequency-modulated notes sweeping through a wide range of frequencies and different sweeps related to their syrinx and are identified in the signals. The broadband signals are grouped into similar song patterns and are checked versus the bird's position, the background noise, and weather conditions. These experiments are conducted in controlled background noise conditions to quantify the effect of noise on the birds. It is found that background noise causes production of louder calls while it does not affect that playback behavioral response of the bird.