Black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) alter alarm call duration and peak frequency in response to traffic noise.

ABSTRACT: Anthropogenic noise is an often-overlooked byproduct of urbanization and affects the soundscape in which birds communicate. Previous studies assessing the impact of traffic noise have focused on bird song, with many studies demonstrating the ability of birds to raise song frequency in the presence of low-frequency traffic noise to avoid masking. Less is known about the impact of traffic noise on avian alarm calls, which is surprising given the degree to which predator information within alarm calls may impact fitness. The objective of this study was to assess the impacts of traffic noise on the Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus), a small non-migratory songbird with a well-studied and information-rich alarm call. We studied birds at eight locations in Stark County, Ohio, from 15

SUBMITTER: Courter JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7595340 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature