Viewing page 392 of 751

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

8

Ramphocelus, Feb. 21, 1958, II       

[[image - lines drawn here and then after 4 more lines]]. More often (I think) 4. I have also heard at least one series with at least 7 or 8 notes. The general effect of this call is very reminiscent of the series of Wh Notes uttered by Blue Honeycreepers during many disputes (allowing for the deeper, louder, & more nasal voice of the Sangre de Toro.)

Difficult to determine exactly what the function of this performance is. The female this morning has usually responded in a hostile manner (either flying away from the male, or making pecking (?intuous?), toward him), but this may be a simple response to his measures and nothing else. (The female may also have responded by similar notes, once or twice, but I am not sure about this.)

The whole thing is certainly surprisingly reminiscent of the Blue Honeycreepers.


Ramphocelus, I   
    
February 24, 1958
Barro Colorado

Trapped another male Sangre de Toro in the net this morning. Banded white right. Going to let him loose in aviary.

Of course, this new male is just paralyzed when first let loose; and spends almost the first hour clinging to the side of the aviary in the corner. And the old male isn't really as excited as I expected - much less than he was when I let the female loose!

There was, however, a vigorous dispute between the old male and the female when they went down to feed. Standing face to face and pecking at one another. Accompanied by lots of notes, apparently a more or less irregular series of CN's or MCN's, perhaps slight muffled