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Mixed Diglossini, May 24, 1965, II.  (63)

Then several Whitertarts Singing simultaneously.  See one, apparently alone, 30 ft. up in tall tree.  Soon shut up.

SEE ALSO TODAY'S NOTES ON GENERAL MIXED FLOCKS.

^[[Laf]] 9:55 Fog gone. Cloud cover getting lighter. Getting warmer.  Hear faint but unmistakable snatch of Laf Song up hill.  Nothing else audible at time.  So there are at least 2 Lafs in this area. (See also below).

^[[Sitti Laf Cy]] Then see large mixed flock, including Sittis, Laf, and Cy (described in mixed flock notes).

I have seen far too little of the birds in this particular area to be able to say anything very definite about their behavior in general. (Also the weather has been so bad during the last two days that the diglossini - unlike the tanagers, finches, and warblers - have remained hidden.)  But my tentative impressions are as follows:

^[[Laf Cy Albi]] I. Laf(s), Cy(s), and Albi(s), all are relatively rare here. Not only have I seen the birds infrequently, but they also have [[underlined]] definitely [[/underlined]] Sung relatively rarely.  In the case of the Laf(s) and Cy(s), at least, this last point would seem to be [[underlined]] conclusive [[/underlined]]. I.E. individuals cannot encounter territorial rivals frequently.

^[[Sitti]] Sittis probably are relatively common (for Sittis).

^[[Gen]] II. Sitti ranges (with flocks) certainly overlap those of all 3 Diglossa spp.

^[[Sitti Laf Cy Albi]] III. Today's observations prove conclusively that Sittis compete with Laf(s).  I presume that they must also compete with Cy(s). They [[underlined]] may [[/underlined]] not compete with Albi(s) to any appreciable extent - Albi(s) being largely confined to low scrub and Sittis being largely arboreal.

^[[Gen]] IV. It is interesting that the Diglossa spp. here have been seen