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127

Ramphocelus,Mar. 24, 1962, II         

6:06 a.m. Another male starts to utter Ф's without ФR just like first male. This may be usual high intensity "song" of the species during the height of the breeding season (replacing the series of TssN's uttered in similar circumstances during earlier phases of the breeding cycle).

It may also be "real" song, in my sense of the term!!!
  
The series of Ф's without ФR are more or less stopped within 10 minutes. I.e. this is a real dawn pattern.
  
By 6:45 most of the males seem to be uttering mostly Ф's with R. Still perched high & exposed. More or less surveying their territories.
  
6:55 a.m. Male who has been uttering Ф's with ФR while alone, utters TssN's in flight while flying toward female or juv. who has appeared in tree on the opposite side of his territory. Then hops near female or juv, then hops away, still uttering TssN's. Female or juv. apparently silent. Then male flies away. Female or juv. follows after a second. Then male apparently pounces on female or juv. in flight. Rapid twisting aerial chase. Accompanied by long R or ФR. Then both birds disappear.
  
Was this atypical reaction of a male to the appearance of a potential mate?
  
(It was interesting that there was no "greeting" R during this incident. "Greeting" R's may be uttered only by birds joining other birds with who they are very familiar.)
  
7:25. Flush a male who flies up into a tree, utters a few Ф's without ФR. These notes may be quite close to the hoarse buzzy type of PN.
  
7:40. Come across a whole group of very excited birds. At least 4 or 5 female or juvs and 1 (possibly 2) males. Hopping about

Transcription Notes:
Ф phi