The Function of Singing in Female Black-Headed Grosbeaks (Pheucticus melanocephalus): Family-Group Maintenance

Abstract

Abstract The responses of young Black-headed Grosbeaks (Pheucticus melanocephalus) to playback of the songs of parents and strangers were examined. I found that young grosbeaks moved about more, called more, and were more often oriented toward speakers in response to parental song (both male and female) than in response to the songs of strangers. I suggest that such a response is part of a system used by Black-headed Grosbeaks to maintain family groups after the young fledge. In this system, an adult with food, but unaware of the location of its young, sings to elicit begging from its young. The parent bird is then able to locate and feed its young.