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67

Atlapetes, I
April 16, 1962
Cerro Punta

Working near upper pasture this afternoon.

5:50 p.m. Suddenly flushed a whole family of Yellow-throats, including 2 adults and 2 or 3 young (with short tails and yellow at the gape). Birds hopped and flew about nervously in the bushes. Uttering lots and lots of thin, high-pitched, moderately loud "Tseeeeeeeeee" notes, intermingled with a few slightly different "Tseeeeeaah" notes. Two types of notes intergrading. Slightly variable in length. Quite like ECN's, but slightly hoarse. Some with a slight but definite rattle undertone. (It is possible that some of the ECN's I have heard previously were also slightly hoarse, but, if so, I certainly overlooked it.) These notes were certainly uttered by at least one adult and one young bird (probably by all the birds of the group). The adult(s) had extreme CR, moderate Thflff, and moderate fluffing of the underparts throughout the period the notes were uttered. But no Bowing or St!! The young bird(s) did not perform any ritualized movements or assume any ritualized postures while uttering the notes. Just sat looking generally fluffy (like the young birds of almost all species in almost all circumstances).

The birds were certainly far more conspicuous during this performance than I have ever seen before. Notes nearly continuous for almost 5 minutes.

Then hoarse ECN's were quite reminiscent of the "Zeeeeeee-aah" notes of Brown-capped Bush-tanagers.

This is another, independent, indication that Atlapetes is