CoChat
Sign Up
Cited by 228Animal Vocal Communication and BehaviorAvian ecology and behaviorAnimal Behavior and Reproduction

Use of Vocalizations to Establish Species Limits in Antbirds (Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae)

Open access
Isler, Morton L., Isler, Phyllis R., Whitney, Bret M.·1998·The Auk
DOI 10.2307/4089407
Open this paper in CoChat — free accountOpen PDF

Abstract

We introduce an empirically derived methodology for the definition, measurement, and application of vocal characters in assessing species limits in the numerically important Neotropical family Thamnophilidae. On the basis of available evidence, we assume that vocalizations are innate and that all vocal characters have a role in maintenance of species integrity in thamnophilids. Vocalizations of eight syntopic pairs, the members of which resemble one another in both plumage and voice, were analyzed to identify diagnosable vocal characters. To be diagnosable, characters had to distinguish members of a pair unambiguously. Three of the eight pairs were diagnosable by three vocal characters, four pairs by four characters, and one pair by seven characters. Vocalizations differed most consistently by characters reflecting loudsong note structure, loudsong pace, and note structure of calls. In establishing species limits for allopatric antbird populations, we suggest that three vocal characters, the minimum number distinguishing the syntopic pairs, be used as a point of reference. Keeping this point of reference in mind, we recommend that multiple diagnosable vocal characters be present when vocalizations are a major factor in determining species limits in thamnophilid antbirds. To the extent that populations differ strongly in other characters (e.g. morphological, molecular, other behavioral), fewer vocal characters may suffice. The identification of multiple vocal characters as a point of reference, as opposed to individual characters (e.g. note shape) or vocalization types (e.g. the loudsong), allows for greater latitude in the diagnosis. A focus on the number of characters is appropriate given the possibility that the role and importance of vocalization types in species' repertoires may differ across groups of taxa. The methodology and results may also have application in the study of other avian groups in which vocalizations are innate, especially the suboscines.

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.2307/4089407

Cites

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • The three recordings are too few to calculate effect sizes; for example, the methodology of Isler et al. (1998) requires calculation of percentiles in the t-distribution of measurements drawn from a sample of vocalisations.

    “The three recordings are too few to calculate effect sizes; for example, the methodology of Isler et al. (1998) requires calculation of percentiles in the t-distribution of measurements drawn from a sample of vocalisations.”

    From Species rank for Rheinardia ocellata nigrescens (Phasianidae) (2020) · cites this paper as Isler et al. 1998

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

Cites

No references could be resolved yet.

Research works printed but not linked: 44

  1. ALVAREZ A,, J. 1994. Abundancia y diversidad de es- pecies de aves en 10s rios Tigre y Corrientes. M.S. thesis, Universidad Nacional de la Ama- zonia Peruana, Iquitos, Peru.
  2. ARCTANDER, P., AND J. FJELDSA. 1994. Andean tapa- culos of the genus Scytalopus (Aves, Rhinocryp- tidae): A study of speciation using DNA se- quence data. Pages 205-225 in Conservation ge- netics (V. Loeschke, J. Tomiuk, and S. K. Jain, Eds.). Birkhauser Verlag, Basel, Switzerland.
  3. BAPTISTA, L. F. 1996. ~ature-and its nurturing in avi- an vocal development. Pages 39-60 in Ecology and evolution of acoustic communication in birds (D. E. Kroodsma and E. H. Miller, Eds.). Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York.
  4. BECKER, P. H. 1982. Species-specific characteristics of bird sounds. Pages 213-252 in Acoustic com- munication in birds, vol.
  5. BIERREGAARD, R. O., JR., M. COHN-HAFT, D. F. STOTZ, AND D. M. TEIXEIRA. 1997. Cryptic biodiversity: An overlooked species and new subspecies of antbird (Formicariidae) with a revision of Cer- comacra tyrannina in northwestern South Amer- ica. Pages 111-128 in Studies in Neotropical or- nithology honoring Ted Parker (J. V. Remsen, Jr., Ed.). Ornithological Monographs No. 48.
  6. BRENOWITZ, E. A,, AND D. E. KROODSMA. 1996. The neuroethology of birdsong. Pages 285-304 in Ecology and evolution of acoustic communica- tion in birds (D. E. Kroodsma and E. H. Miller, Eds.). Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York.
  7. BRUMFIELD, R. T., AND J. V. REMSEN, JR. 1996. Geo- graphic variation and species limits in Cinnycer- thia wrens of the Andes. Wilson Bulletin 108: 205-227.
  8. ARCTANDER, P., AND J. FJELDSA. 1 994. Andean tapa culos of the genus Scytalopus (Aves, Rh inocryp tidae): A study of speciation using DNA se quence data . Pages 205-225 in Conservation ge netics (V. Loesch ke, J. Tom iuk, and S. K. Jain, Eds.). Birkhauser Verlag, Basel, Sw i tzerland.
  9. BAPTISTA, L. F. 1996. Nature and its nurturing in avi an vocal development. Pages 39-60 in Ecology and evolution of acoustic communication in birds (D. E. Kroodsma and E. H. Miller, Eds.). Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York.
  10. BECKER, P. H . 1 982. Species-specific characteristics of bird sounds. Pages 21 3-252 in Acoustic com munication in birds, vol.
  11. BIERREGAARD, R. O., JR., M. COHN-HAFT, D. F. STOTZ, AND D. M . TEIXEIRA. 1997, Cryptic biodiversity : An overlooked species and new subspecies of an tbird ( Formicariidae) with a revision of Cer comacra tyrannina in northwestern South Amer ica. Pages 1 1 1-128 in Stud ies in Neotropical or nithology honoring Ted Parker (J. V. Remsen, Jr., Ed.). Ornithological Monographs No. 48.
  12. BRENOWITZ, E. A ., AND D. E. KR00DSMA. 1 996. The neuroethology of birdsong. Pages 285-304 in Ecology and evolution of acoustic communica tion in birds (D. E. Kroodsma and E. H. Miller, Eds.). Cornel l University Press, Ithaca, New York.
  13. BRUMFIELD, R. T., AND J. V, REMSEN, JR. 1 996. Geo graphic variation and species l i mits in Cinnycer thia wrens of the Andes. Wilson Bulletin 108: 205-227.
  14. CAPPARELLA, A. P. 1 987. Effects of riverine barriers on genetic differentiation of Amazonian forest undergrowth birds. Ph.D. dissertation, Louisi- ana State University, Baton Rouge.
  15. DOOLING, R. J. 1982. Auditory perception in birds. Pages 95-130 in Acoustic communication in birds, vol.
  16. HACKETT, S. J. 1993. Phylogenetic and biogeographic relationships in the Neotropical genus Gymno- pithys (Formicariidae). Wilson Bulletin 105:301- 315.
  17. ISLER, M. L., P. R. ISLER, AND 8 . M. WHITNEY. 1997. Biogeography and systematics of the Thamno- philus punctatus (Thamnophilidae) complex. Pages 355-381 in Studies in Neotropical orni- thology honoring Ted Parker (J. V. Remsen, Jr., Ed.). Ornithological Monographs No. 48. JOHNSON, N. K. 1980. Character variation and evo- lution of sibling species in the Empidonax difficil- is-flmescens complex (Aves: Tyrannidae). Uni- versity of California Publications in Zoology 112:l-151.
  18. KRABBE, N., AND T. S. SCHULENBERG. 1997. Species limits and natural history of Scytalopus tapacu- 10s (Rhinocryptidae), with descriptions of the Ecuadorian taxa, including three new species. Pages 47-88 in Studies in Neotropical ornithol- ogy honoring Ted Parker (J. V. Remsen, Jr., Ed.). Ornithological Monographs No. 48.
  19. KROODSMA, D. E. 1989. Male Eastern Phoebes (Say- ornis phoebe; Tyrannidae, Passeriformes) fail to imitate songs. Journal of Comparative Psychol- ogy 103:227-232.
  20. LANYON, W. E. 1978. Revision of the Myiarchus fly- catchers of South America. Bulletin of the Amer- ican Museum of Natural History 161:429-627.
  21. MORTON, E. S. 1996. A comparison of vocal behavior among tropical and temperate passerine birds. Pages 258-268 in Ecology and evolution of acoustic communication in birds (D. E. Kroods- ma and E. H. Miller, Eds.). Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York.
  22. RATCLIFFE, L., AND K. OTTER. 1996. Sex differences in song recognition. Pages 339-355 in Ecology and evolution of acoustic communication in birds (D. E. Kroodsma and E. H. Miller, Eds.). Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York.
  23. STEIN, R. C. 1963. Isolating mechanisms between populations of Traill's Flycatchers. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 107:21- 50.
  24. STOTZ, D. F., J. W. FITZPATRICK, T. A. PARKER 111, AND D. K. M o s c o v ~~s . 1996. Neotropical birds: Ecol- ogy and conservation. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
  25. WHITNEY, B. W. 1994. A new Scytalopus tapaculo (Rhinocryptidae) from Bolivia, with notes on other Bolivian members of the genus and the ma- gellanicus complex. Wilson Bulletin 106:585-614.
  26. WILLIS, E. 0 . 1967. The behavior of Bicolored Ant- birds. University of California Publications in Zoology Vol. 79. WILLIS, E. 0. 1992. Three Chamaeza antthrushes in eastern Brazil (Formicariidae). Condor 94:110- 116.
  27. ISLER, ISLER, AND WHITNEY [Auk, Vol. 1 1 5
  28. o n genetic differentiation o f Amazonian forest undergrowth birds. Ph.D. dissertation, Louisi ana State University, Baton Rouge.
  29. Do0LING, R. J. 1982. Auditory perception in birds. Pages 95-130 in Acoustic communication in birds, vol.
  30. D. E. Kroodsma and E. H. Miller, Eds.). Academ i c Press, New York.
  31. HACKETT, S. J. 1 993. Phylogenetic and biogeographic relationships in the Neotropical genus Gymno pithys (Formicariidae). Wilson Bulletin 1 05:301- 3 1
  32. ISLER, M. L., P. R. ISLER, AND B. M . WHITNEY. 1997. Biogeography and systematics of the Thamno philus punctatus (Thamnophilidae) complex. Pages 355-381 in Studies in Neotropical orni thology honoring Ted Parker (J. V. Remsen, Jr., Ed.). Ornithological Monographs No. 48.
  33. KRABBE, N., AND T. S . SCHULENBERG. 1997, Species l imits and natural history of Scytalopus tapacu los (Rhinocryptidae), with descriptions of the Ecuadorian taxa, including three new species. Pages 47-88 in Studies in Neotropical ornithol ogy honoring Ted Parker (J. V. Remsen, Jr., Ed. ) . Ornithological Monographs No. 48.
  34. KROODSMA, D. E. 1989. Male Eastern Phoebes (Say ornis phoebe; Tyrannidae, Passeriformes) fail to imitate songs. Journal of Comparative Psychol- 0gy 103:227-232.
  35. LANYON, W. E. 1978. Revision of the Myiarchus fly catchers of South America. Bulletin of the Amer ican Museum of Natural History 161 :429-627.
  36. MORTON, E. S. 1996. A comparison of vocal behavior among tropical and temperate passerine birds. Pages 258-268 in Ecology and evolution of acoustic communication in birds (D. E. Kroods ma and E. H. Miller, Eds.). Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York.
  37. RATCLIFFE, L., AND K. OTTER. 1996. Sex differences in song recognition. Pages 339-355 in Ecology and evolution of acoustic communication in birds (D. E. Kroodsma and E. H. Miller, Eds.). Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York.
  38. STEIN, R. C. 1963. Isolating mechanisms between populations of Traill's Flycatchers. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 107:21- 50.
  39. STOTZ, D. F., J. W. FITZPATRICK, T. A. PARKER III, AND D. K. MoscoviTs. 1996. Neotropical birds: Ecol ogy and conservation. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
  40. WHITNEY, B. W. 1994. A new Scytalopus tapaculo (Rhinocryptidae) from Bolivia, with notes on other Bolivian members of the genus and the ma gellanicus complex. Wilson Bulletin 106:585-61 4.
  41. ZIMMER, K. J . 1997. Species limits in Cranioleuca vul- pina. Pages 849-864 in Studies in Neotropical or- Venezuela. Pages 865-885 in Studies in Neotropical nithology honoring Ted Parker (J. V. Remsen, Jr., ornithology honoring Ted Parker (J. V. Remsen, Jr., Ed.). Ornithological Monographs No. 48. Ed.). Ornithological Monographs No. 48.
  42. Myrmoborus leucophrys BOLIVIA: Cochabamba: Sajta (S. Mayer 1, ISL). El Beni: Chimanes (T. Parker 1, ISL), Riberalta (S. Mayer 2, ISL). Pando: Cobija (T. Parker 2, ISL). PERU: Cuzco: Amazonia Lodge (R. Behrstock 1, ISL). Madre de Dios: Ccolpa de Guacamayos (K. Zimmer 3, ISL), Explorer's Inn (M. Isler 2, LNS; T. Parker 12, LNS). Ucayali: Abujao (T. Meyer 1, ISL). July 1 998] Antbird Vocal Characters 589 pina. Pages 849-864 in Studies in Neotropical or nithology honoring Ted Parker (J. V. Remsen, Jr., Ed.). Ornithological Monographs No. 48.
  43. ZIMMER, K. J., AND S. L. HILTY. 1997. Avifauna of a lo cality in the upper Orinoco drainage of Amazonas, Venezuela. Pages 865-885 in Studies in Neotropical ornithology honoring Ted Parker (J. V. Remsen, Jr., Ed.). Ornithological Monographs No. 48.
  44. Myrmoborus leucophrys BOLIVIA: Cochabamba: Sajta (S. Mayer 1, ISL). El Beni: Chimanes (T. Parker 1, ISL), Riberalta (S. M ayer 2, ISL). Pando: Cobija (T. Parker 2, ISL). PERU: Cuzco: Amazonia Lodge (R. Behrstock 1, ISL). Mad re de Dios: Ccolpa de G uacamayos ( K . Zimmer 3, ISL), Explorer's Inn (M. Isler 2, LNS; T. Parker 1 2, LNS). Ucaya l i : Abujao (T. Meyer 1, ISL). [Auk, Vol. 115 APPENDIX. Continued. Myrmoborus myotherinus BOLIVIA: Cochabamba: Sajta (S. Mayer 1, ISL). El Beni: Serrania de Pildn (T. Parker 1, LNS). La Paz: Rio Tuichi (B. Whitney 3, ISL). BRAZIL: Acre: Boca de Tejo (A. Whittaker 1, ISL), Porangaba (A. Whittaker 1, ISL), P. N. Serra d o Divisor (B. Whitney 2, ISL), Seringal Ocidente (A. Whittaker 1, ISL). PERU: Madre de Dios: Ccolpa de Guacamayos (K. Zimmer 2, ISL), Explorer's Inn (B. Coffey 1, ISL; M. Isler 1, LNS; T. Parker 4, LNS), P. N. Manu (R. Behrstock 1, ISL). Puno: Cerros de Tdvara (T. Parker 2, ISL). Ucayali: Abujao (T. Meyer 1, ISL). Hypocnemis cantator (Region 1) PERU: Loreto: Quebrada Oran (B. Whitney 2, ISL), Quebrada Sucusari (G. Budney IT. Parker 2, LNS; M. Isler 3, LNS; T. Parker 3, LNS; G. Rosenberg 1, ISL; 8. Whitney 2, ISL), Que- brada Yanamono (J. Rowlett 1, ISL). Hypocnemis hypoxantha (Region 1) PERU: Loreto: Quebrada Sucusari (G. BudneyIT. Parker 2, LNS; M. Isler 1, LNS; P. Isler 2, LNS; T. Parker 4, LNS; B. Whitney 5, ISL). Hypocnemis cantator (Region 2) BRAZIL: Mato Grosso: Rio Cristalino (B. Whitney 1, ISL; K. Zimmer 4, ISL). Pard: Itapoama (B. Whitney 1, ISL), Rurdpolis (P. Isler 2, LNS). Hypocnemis hypoxantha (Region 2 ) BRAZIL: Pari: Aveiro (B. Whitney 1, ISL), Itapoama (B. Whitney 4, ISL), Mirituba (B. Whitney 1, ISL), Rur6polis (M. Isler 2, LNS; P. Isler 2, LNS). 590 )SLER, )SLER, AND WHITNEY fAuk, Vol . 1 1

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Isler, M. L., Isler, P. R., & Whitney, B. M.
Affiliations
Smithsonian Institution (US)
ORCID
Isler, Morton L.
Venue
The Auk
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
1998-07
Volume
115
Issue
3
Pages
577-590
ISSN
  • 0004-8038 (ISSN-L)
  • 1938-4254
DOI
10.2307/4089407
OpenAlex
W2315384636
Cited by
228
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 9
FWCI
7.58
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Auk (publishedVersion)
  • Digital Commons - University of South Florida (University of South Florida) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Northwestern University
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology › Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Avian ecology and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
Keywords
Thamnophilidae, species boundaries, bird vocalizations, call structure, species diagnosis, suboscines, Neotropical birds

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review