Plain wrens Cantorchilus modestus zeledoni adjust their singing tempo based on self and partner's cues to perform precisely coordinated duets

摘要: Precise coordination appears to be an important signal in several duetting species. However, little attention has been directed the proximate mechanisms that might drive this behavior. To perform highly coordinated duets, individuals can either have intrinsic fixed singing tempo or modify their based on cues own and partner's songs. In study I determined whether autogenous and/or heterogenous factors are associated with duet plain wrens Cantorchilus modestus zeledoni by analyzing recorded duets from 8 territorial pairs field. Previous research antiphonal almost no overlap. found achieve such precise phrase-by-phrase modifications duration between two consecutive phrases (inter-phrase interval) a) song is answered, b) phrase type used c) position of inter-phrase interval within duet. Moreover, there sex differences how use these intervals. Females produce longer intervals when mates do not answer a phrase, whereas males shorter answer. only sing, both they sing females Both for types sung partners, but so more precision than females. Finally sexes increase as progresses. That achieved complex dynamic process supports idea behavior could pair bond strength.