Viewing page 11 of 114

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Cyanerpes, Nov. 30, 1957, II. 11

notes, or in twos and threes, while flying about or perched or hopping on twigs.
The ♂'s (and possibly the ♀'s) also have a definitely harsher and hoarser call note (HCN). This is morpholically quite distinct from the ordinary CN (intermediates are very rare or non-existent). It seems to be more strongly hostile than the ordinary CN. I have seen a "visiting" ♂ (in perfect plumage) utter a whole series of ordinary CN's while clinging to the cage beside the captive birds, and then fly up (as I approached) and utter a whole series of HCN's from a nearby tree. This might suggest that the HCN contains a stronger escape component than the CN, (although I must admit that the overt signs of escape have been few or non-existent in the other cases of HCN I have observed).
A very common and conspicuous ritualized pattern is crest-raising (CR). This is done by the ♂'s very frequently when they are slightly disturbed. It seems to be a sign of low intensity hostility in general. All the feathers of the turquoise crown patch (and perhaps a few of the sapphire feathers just behind the crown patch) are raised very conspicuously. Definitely ruffled rather than fluffed. (In extreme cases the throat feathers may also be raised a little).
I have only seen the captive ♀ show a brief, slight, CR, in one case ―during a dispute with a Euphonia.
There seems to be some sort of correlation between the CN's and CR. Almost all the (non-flying) CN's are accompanied by CR (the CR often or usually being maintained in the