Geographic and individual variation in the morphology and sequential organization of the song of the Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)

Abstract

Advertising songs of male Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis), from Ontario and Nova Scotia, were studied for patterns of species, regional, and individual distinctiveness. Using a five-category, alphabetic cataloguing scheme. species-typical patterns of song organization were found in the morphology of introductory (A and B) and trill (D) song sections. Using finite-state grammar analysis, regional variation was found in the sequential organization of song sections; regional differences were also seen in the morphology of trill (D) and terminal (E) song sections. Individual differences were detected in the structure of transition (C) sections between B and D, as well as between successive D sections, with no two C sections being alike. Regional variation was also seen in the morphology of C sections.The potential for C sections to act as individual as well as regional markers, and of trills to have both species and regional characteristics, suggests that a song parameter may be capable of carrying more than one type of identifying information.