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Atlapetes, May 29, 1960, II             (29)

general period of song. A bird would first sit on one perch, sing, fly to another perch, sing, fly to a third perch, sing, etc. etc. During the actual moments the notes were uttered, however, it always sat quite still.
   
It seems obvious, now, that the "basic" structure of the song of this species is [[image]]
   
And I am more than ever convinced that each local population has developed its own local variant of song.

           
Atlapetes, I    
May 30, 1960
Cerro Pichincha

This morning was cloudy, with occasional fog and/or rain; and we caught many more glimpses of Black-headed Bush-finches (assimilis), than on previous, largely sunny, mornings.
   
Usually we just surprised one bird, which flew or hopped away from us, with more or less CR. Always silent at all times. 
   
Once, however, we came upon a pair. We didn't frighten them enough to make them fly away; but they were obviously alarmed by our presence, and went into elaborate display. Rather regular Bowing and rather regular Pivoting. The Bowing & Pivoting usually, but not always combined or synchronized. Tail usually definitely cocked upward. (I shall call this "TV."  Extreme V-D TF's, with very strong lateral component, frequently superimposed upon the TV. No WF's. Instead the wings were held out from the body a little and kept motionless. The body plumage was only slightly fluffed, if at all. CR was very extreme And there was a moderately extreme Thf! While perched, the birds always

Transcription Notes:
[[image: song structure]]