Solitary Song and its inhibition in some Estrildidae

Summary In the species studied song appears to have two functions; an epigamic function = Display Song, and a contact function = Solitary Song. Solitary Song appears to be common to all the species studied. Its utterance indicates that the bird is unpaired or separated from another individual with which it has formed a bond. InUraeginthus bengalus, U. angolensis, andAmandava amandava Solitary Song is also uttered by the hen in similar circumstances. InLonchura punctulata, A. amandava, andEuodice malabarica song is usually but not completely inhibited by the presence of a mate, in whose absence Solitary Song will be uttered even when other individuals of the same species are present. In the species studied of the generaEstrilda, Lagonosticta, andUraeginthus Solitary Song is inhibited by the continued close proximity of another bird even though this may be of the same sex or of a different species and may elicit aggressive or fleeing reactions; but conditions of close association with a bird other than a suitable mate would presumably only occur under captive conditions. There appears to be a distance factor controlling such inhibition. There is evidence of the inhibition of song due to the presence of a mate in other passerine species.