Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Apart from short descriptions of vocalizations by field observers in published sources, little is known about the vocal repertoire of Rose-throated Becards. Many descriptions and sound transliterations by different observers cannot easily be matched to one another.

The full repertoire size and the social contexts and message contents of utterances remain to be studied. The species often is relatively quiet, especially during the non-breeding period. Most sounds are relatively soft and high-pitched, but older nestlings can be quite noisy (Skutch 1969). Based on interpretations of published descriptions and digitized sounds in the Macaulay Library, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, some of the types of vocalizations given by the becard are identified here:

(1) Squeal or Long Slur (Figure 1A) is a soft, thin, high-pitched, down-slurred whistle or lisping note that is somewhat drawn-out and typically begins abruptly, as in tseeuuu [JSG] (variously transliterated in the literature, e.g., Phillips 1949, Peterson and Chalif 1973, Oberholser 1974, Howell and Webb 1995, Jones 2003);

(2) Dawn Song is a prolonged sequence of single and double phrases or couplets (Figure 2A-C) given by the male, usually or exclusively early in the morning around sunrise (Smithe 1966, Stiles and Skutch 1989, Howell and Webb 1995; see also ML 45176);

(3) Twitter is a sputtering sequence of variable, short, high-pitched, squeaky notes, each with a harmonic structure, that can be delivered as a separate call (Fig. 1B, whit or whip) (Slud 1964, Jones 2003; ML 184043), often associated with interspersed or terminal squeals (Twitter-Squeal, Figures 3 and 4);

(4) Chatter is a rapid sequence of variable, relatively low-pitched, sharp notes, usually ending in one or two long or short slurred whistles (Squeals) – perhaps a variant of the common Twitter-Squeal (L.I. Davis in Bent 1942, Smithe 1966, Howell and Webb 1995; ML 7768 );

(5) Location Call, described as a "peculiar piercing cry" uttered by a fledgling from the roof of an atypical nest (Eaton and Edwards 1947);

(6) Solicitation Call, given by nestlings receiving food from an adult, characterized by Skutch (1969) as "peculiar undulatory notes that suggested laughter";

(7) other, unspecified calls, probably several types of short, separate sounds uttered singly or as several repeated notes. Sutton and Pettingill (1942) commented on a "thin kew followed by an odd sputtering" that they heard during nest-building. Jones (2003) mentioned a Pheuticus-like, soft tink call. Howell and Webb (1995) described an "alarm" call near the nest as a quiet pik or pii-dik. and Slud (1964: 231, 1980) heard sharp, strong tseep or tseee-r calls given alone or doubled, and single notes "with an introductory or underlying rasp." ML recordings document others, e.g., whit (Figure 1B), tip, trr (short growl), tsip (Figure 4) (e.g., ML 184043 and ML 7267). Some short calls may be repeated rapidly as a chatter (above) (e.g., tew-tew-tew… in ML 7267);

(8) "Song" as used in some literature often may represent other vocalizations noted above rather than another song-type. Jones (2003) mentioned a "thin, rapid, squeaky, accelerating rattled ending in speee". This may be a Twitter-Squeal sequence. The "song" described and diagrammed by Smithe (1966:1 51-152) perhaps is a modified Chatter- or Twitter-Squeal combination, while his chi-zoo, wheez-oo, chi-zoo, kee-zoo phrases, "repeated over and over with short pauses between each group of four syllables," is likely to be a version of the Dawn Song. Sutton and Pettingill (1942) used the same transliteration to describe a song heard in Tamaulipas as the male sang from a treetop perch for over 30 minutes in the morning near an active nest.

The Squeal is the best known and most frequently heard vocalization, uttered by males and probably by females. Most descriptions in the literature mention this call. The vocalization can be a single call variably rendered in different circumstances, or may be more than one squeal-type (e.g., Smithe 1966). Some varieties are shortened and often associated with chattering or twittering outbursts (female?). The typical variant is a somewhat prolonged down-slur, but others may be up-slurred (Stiles and Skutch 1989), while still other variants are shortened whistles without an obvious terminal slur (e.g., ML Audio 184043). Others do not have the initial accent ("t") or explosive sound (abrupt onset). These variants may occur in different social contexts. The typical, accented, long slur may serve in some contexts as a "contact note" between sexes in a mated pair. Chatter and Twitter sequences are close-encounter, social utterances, often between a male and female at the nest. The Dawn Song seems to be a clearcut, ritualized vocalization. It was described by Howell and Webb (1995: 522) as "a slightly reedy, plaintive si-tchew wii-chew, or si-tseeu wii-tzeeu, repeated, at times si-tseeu wii-tsee, si-tseeeu, etc.," continued in an apparent bout of singing.

Additional audio recordings of vocalizations of Rose-throated Becard can be heard at Macaulay Library and at xeno-canto.

None known.