Viewing page 429 of 751

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

45

Ramphocelus, Dec. 18, 1958, II          

"tuh - wheeeet wheeeeet."  This is the most elaborate vocal performance that I have heard any bird of this species ever give. (These birds don't seem to have anything like the (?)R performance of the Yellow-rump. I think their "wheeeet" notes are provoked by loneliness, and are used as attempts to "call in" other birds. I have heard them most often given by isolated birds, which have been left behind when the group moves on, usually just before moving on to join the group themselves.

The "tsit" CN's of this species are quite reminiscent of the CN's of the Blue-black Grosbeaks in quality.


Ramphocelus, I

December 20, 1958
Iquitos

Watching a pair of Silver-bills (sexes unknown). One lands beside the other and does wide G in posture comme ca;

[[image - sketch of bird with its beak open]]

The other bird responds by going into some sort of a "crouch" pattern. Probably something like the low forward posture of the Black-throat drawn on Oct. 26, p.40, but I couldn't tell too much because it was front view. One or both birds uttered hoarse MCN-type notes during this incident.

This species often feeds very close to the ground, like the Sangre de Toro. Around here, it is quite common even in quite open country, flying among scattered low bushes in otherwise bare (?) fields, for instance.