Species and sex differences in vocalizations between sex-role reversed shorebirds, Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa) and Wattled Jacana (J. jacana)
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Elizabeth P. Derryberry; Toni Brown; Evan J. Buck; Sara E. Lipshutz; Gina Zwicky
- Source
- The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 132
- Subject
- 0106 biological sciences
Ecology
biology
Northern jacana
Zoology
Interspecific competition
biology.organism_classification
010603 evolutionary biology
01 natural sciences
Attraction
010605 ornithology
Jacana
Animal Science and Zoology
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Language
- ISSN
- 1559-4491
Species-specific vocalizations can act as a reproductive isolating mechanism between closely related populations. We analyzed vocal differences between 2 hybridizing species of sex-role reversed polyandrous shorebirds, the Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa) and Wattled Jacana (J. jacana). We found that Northern Jacana calls have higher fundamental frequency and peak frequency than Wattled Jacana calls. We also compared calls between females and males, as both jacana species are sex-role reversed and females compete for male mates. Males produce calls with a higher fundamental and peak frequency and shorter notes than females. These results suggest that vocal differences between Northern and Wattled jacanas have the potential to act as a behavioral mediator of interspecific interactions, and that sex differences in vocalizations may relate to sex-role reversal in territorial defense and mate attraction.