Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Violaceous Euphonias are prolific singers. The song is variously described as "a rapid warbling which includes rolling chree notes and is punctuated with occasional stacatto bee bee calls" (Snow 1974); as "shift[ing] quickly among clear pleasant-sounding muscial notes, e.g. di-sweet! or peeep!, short trills, and raspy, thin, unpleasant phrases such as chi-chi or tzer; typically song elements are distinct (not jumbled together)" (Isler and Isler 1987); and as "a spluttering, rambling ser[ies] of relatively distinct phrases that alternate abruptly between buzzy trills, chattery notes [and] musical or harsh notes .... Buzzes, chattery notes, and short trills are characteristic" (Hilty 2003). Songs of Violaceous Euphonia also frequently incorporate mimicry of songs and calls of other species of bird (Belcher and Smooker 1937, Snow 1974, Sick 1983, Isler and Isler 1987, Hilty 2003). Violaceous Euphonias imitate to vocalizations of at least 41 species of birds (Belcher and Smooker 1937, Snow 1974, Sick 1983), and their repertoire presumably is much greater. Snow (1974) noted up to 6 species imitated in a single bout of song, and she frequently heard imitations of 4 or 5 species in a song bout. Snow (1974) also noted that "the situations in which a pure euphonia song and one including imitations are uttered appear not be distinct." Oniki et al. (1994) suggested that mimicry may be employed at fruiting trees "in order to call [other species] to arrive..[to] gain protection from predators attracted to the trees by having other species about to give the alarm or distract the predators," although mimicry occurs in many other social contexts (Snow 1974).

Other vocalizations of Violaceous Euphonia include "a loud, somewhat harsh, Moderate-pitched che-ep and a loud rattle or chatter" (Isler and Isler 1987).

Additional audio recordings of vocalizations of Violaceous Euphonia can be heard at Macaulay Library, at xeno-canto, and at Internet Bird Collection.

None reported.