Song dialect patterns in white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia)

The songs of White-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) are used in male territorial displays, and vary across short geographic distances. The sonograms show frequency against time for three individuals from each of two populations in Northern California. The Berkeley dialect is a rising two-note call followed by a trailing trill, the Marin dialect is a single note followed by a steady trill. Song dialects appeared to be learned. (after Jonsson 1992; from Futuyma 1998).

Text material © 2005 by Steven M. Carr