Notes on the vocalizations of Rufous Spinetail (Synallaxis unirufa)

In the following we briefly analyze and compare voice of the different races of Rufous Spinetail (Synallaxis unirufa). We also try to quantify the extent of any vocal differences using the criteria proposed by Tobias et al. (2010), as a support for taxonomic review. We have made use of sound recordings available on-line from Xeno Canto (XC).

Song seems to differ among races:

meridana: Song is a series of 2 or 3 nasal almost identical notes, the first one only slightly shorter than the second and third. Max. freq. of all notes similar, sometimes first higher, sometimes last higher.

Measurements (n=6):

# of notes                                             2-3 (average c. 2.5)

length of shortest note                      0.073-0.096s

length of longest note                       0.087-0.119s

length ratio                                          1.06-1.4

max freq first note                             1800-2350Hz

max freq second note                       1900-2250Hz

note shape                                           almost identical overslurred notes

 

munoztebari: Song is a series of 2, occasionally 3 notes, the first notably shorter. Max. freq. of notes almost identical.

Measurements (n=4):

# of notes                                             2-3 (average c. 2.2)

length of shortest note                      0.04-0.055s

length of longest note                       0.14-0.20s

length ratio                                          3-4

max freq first note                             1900-2300Hz

max freq second note                       1900-2200Hz

note shape                                           First rounded overslurred, second 'rising overslurred'

 

unirufa: Song is single note, often preceeded by one (occasionally two) short introductory notes. max. freq. of introductory note notably lower-pitched than long note.

Measurements (n=8):

# of notes                                            1-3 (average c. 1.5)                                          

length of shortest note                      0.035-0.047s

length of longest note                       0.26-0.4s

length ratio                                          6-10

max freq first note                             1300-1650Hz

max freq second note                       2000-2600Hz

note shape                                           First rounded overslurred (if present), second 'rising overslurred'

 

ochrogaster: Song is single note, occasionally preceded by a short introductory note. Max. freq. of introductory note notably lower-pitched than long note. (Also has a series of 2-3 rising notes, this voice in 'Birds of Peru' being called song, in this case what is song in unirufa would be call in ochrogaster, which is not impossible but would need a clear proof. In any case, the latter vocalisation is not heard from unirufa).

Measurements (n=7):

# of notes                                             1-2 (average c. 1.1)

length of shortest note                      0.042s (if present)

length of longest note                       0.25-0.3s

length ratio                                          7 (if applicable)

max freq first note                             1340Hz (if present)

max freq second note                       1900-2200Hz

note shape                                           long note rising with a clear bend, sounding bisyllabic 'pueet'

 

Conclusion

Voice is quite different between races, the largest difference when comparing the two geographical extremes.

meridana differs from all other races by its series of almost identical notes resulting in a length ratio 1.06-1.4 (score 3) and on average the highest number of notes (score 1) and from unirufa/ochrogaster in a smaller frequency range (score 1 or 2).

munoztebari differs from unirufa/ochrogaster in having shorter 'long notes' resulting in a smaller length ratio (score 2), a higher number of notes (score 1) and in a smaller frequency range (score 1 or 2)

ochrogaster differs from unirufa in having less notes (score 1), a more bisyllabic long note  and also in having an alternative vocalization (score 1 or 2)

 

This note was finalized on 28th April 2015, using sound recordings available on-line at that moment. We would like to thank in particular the sound recordists who placed their recordings for this species on XC: Roger Ahlman, Nick Athanas, Peter Boesman, Oswaldo Cortes, Joe Klaiber, Niels Krabbe, Dan Lane, Gabriel Leite, Mitch Lysinger, Hans Matheve, John V Moore, Jonas Nilsson, Fabrice Schmitt, Andrew Spencer, Herman Van Oosten and Julian Zuleta.

 

References

Tobias, J.A., Seddon, N., Spottiswoode, C.N., Pilgrim, J.D., Fishpool, L.D.C. & Collar, N.J. (2010). Quantitative criteria for species delimitation. Ibis 152(4): 724–746.

More Information: on103_rufous_spinetail.pdf