Territorial song frequency does not signal body size in a song-learning passerine.

ABSTRACT: The negative relationship between song frequency and body size in birds is well-established across species. However, whether song frequency reliably signals body size and individual quality requires more detailed within-species comparisons, particularly in species with diverse song repertoires. We investigated this relationship in the Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana), a song-learning species with a limited repertoire. Males of this species produce songs composed of two phrases: an initial phrase, which varies across individuals and defines their repertoire, and a final phrase, which is shared across the population. We analysed multiple frequency parameters across both components, accounting for phrase-sharing patterns among males, to assess whether song frequency reflects body size, us

SUBMITTER: Zampa L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12267584 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature