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51

Atlapetes, Apr. 15, 1961, IV. 

I also watched some Chestnut-cappeds this morning. Probably always the A birds.
  
When I first arrived, one of the Chestnut cappeds was sitting by itself, low in the shrubbery, uttering the usual kind of song "Ta-a-zeeeeeeeee zeeeeeeee" and Ta-a-zeeeeeeeeee zeeeeeeeeeee", repeated at length (the 2 types of phrases being jumbled in an apparently random order). The bird uttering these phrases seemed to be separated from its mate.
  
I heard these songs before I heard the second burst of "dawn song" by the Yellow-throat (see above). It is possible, therefore, that this species does not have a special type of "dawn song" like the Yellow-throat, the Sangre de Toro, and the Saltators. Perhaps more like rufinucha in this respect?
  
Later in the morning, I saw one of the x birds become separated from its mate 3 times. Each time the isolated bird began to sing immediately. The songs were slightly different on the three occasions. Once, the bird repeated "Dee ta-zeeeeeeeeee, ta-zeeeeeeeeee" phrases. The second time, the bird repeated "Ta-zeeeeeeeeee, Ta-zeeeeeeeee, ta-zeeeeeeeeee" phrases. The third time the bird repeated "Ta ta-zeeeeeeee, zeeeeeee" phrases.
  
It is obvious that the songs of this species are quite variable, within rather narrow limits. Also, whenever a bird begins to sing one type of phrase, it tends to repeat the same type throughout a whole burst of song.
  
I think that all the "zeeeeeeeeee" notes of all songs may have a slight rattle undertone; but this undertone is always very inconspicuous unless the bird is obviously hostile.
  
The TF's of this species are always or almost always V-D,
  

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