Waiting for the snow to melt…
This study examined interspecific competition between mountain white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha) and Lincoln’s sparrows (Melospiza lincolnii) using a playback experiment. Mountain white-crowned sparrow males were presented with three different song playback factors: 1) a negative control of a novel song (Tropical Kingbird, Tyrannus melancholicus), 2) a positive control of a conspecific song, and 3) a treatment of a heterospecific song (Lincoln’s sparrow). Behavior was recorded before and after the playback and analyzed by comparing the difference from baseline in nine behavioral expressions between the three stimuli. A response was seen for attentive behaviors after both the conspecific and heterospecific playbacks (P=0.36 and 0.25 respectively) with no change in behavior to the control. There was a decrease in relaxed behaviors after the conspecific playbacks. Food supplementation was not found to affect the bird’s response. These results show that the mountain white-crowned sparrows responds to the intrusion of not only a conspecific male on their territory but also pay attention to and alter their behavior towards a heterospecific competitor.
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