ABSTRACT
I investigated recognition of individual neighbors' songs in a migratory
species with large repertoires, the Red-eyed Vireo (Vire
olivaceus). To test for abilities to recognize individual
neighbors, I measured responses to playbacks of neighbors' songs from
appropriate and inappropriate boundaries in two different years.
Because the responses to the two types of playbacks were not statistically
different in either year, I concluded that Red-eyed Vireos have difficulty
recognizing their neighbors by song. If recognition of neighbors
serves to reduce energy expended in territorial defense during the
breeding season, a large repertoire could be costly to male Red-eyed
Vireos.
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