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Vocal displays and some interactions of Kenyan honeyguides (Indicatoridae) with barbets (Capitonidae)

by: Short, Lester L

Publication date: 1979

Topics: Honeyguides, Behavior, Capitonidae, Birdsongs, Birds, Host-parasite relationships, Honeyguides -- Behavior, Capitonidae -- Behavior, Birdsongs -- Kenya, Birds -- Behavior -- Kenya, Birds -- Behavior, Birds -- Kenya

Publisher: New York, N.Y. : American Museum of Natural History

Collection: americanmuseumnaturalhistory; biodiversity

Contributor: American Museum of Natural History Library

Language: English

Rights: http://biodiversitylibrary.org/permissions

Rights-holder: American Museum of Natural History Library

Volume: no. 2684

19 p. : 26 cm

"In the course of studies of barbets in Kenya we were able to obseve the behavior of five species of honeyguides: Prodotiscus (insignis) zambesiae, Indicator indicator, I. variegatus, I. minor, and a small species tentatively identified as I. narokensis. Previously unknown or little known vocalizations of four of these were recorded on tape and analyzed. Much of the behavior and many of the vocalizations occurred during interactions of the honeyguides with various species of barbets that in most cases were not breeding. A female Indicator indicator engaged in an encounter with Stactolaema olivacea, I. variegatus responded to playback of the small Pogoniulus simplex and one and at times two I. minor underwent sustained interactions with three Lybius leucocephalus. Playback of Lybius torquatus duets stimulated the barbets to duet frequently, which attracted both Indicator minor and I. narokensis; some sustained interactions resulted. Our findings add to the knowledge of honeyguides, and particularly demonstrate that strong interactions with potential host species (barbets) of the nest-parasitic honeyguides occur, and may take place in the absence of breeding activity of the barbets. Various questions are raised by the observations, and playback is advocated as a technique for fututre investigations that may answer these questions"--P. [1]

Title from caption

"October 3, 1979."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 18-19)

Abstract: 'In the course of studies of barbets in Kenya we were able to obseve the behavior of five species of honeyguides: Prodotiscus (insignis) zambesiae, Indicator indicator, I. variegatus, I. minor, and a small species tentatively identified as I. narokensis. Previously unknown or little known vocalizations of four of these were recorded on tape and analyzed. Much of the behavior and many of the vocalizations occurred during interactions of the honeyguides with various species of barbets that in most cases were not breeding. A female Indicator indicator engaged in an encounter with Stactolaema olivacea, I. variegatus responded to playback of the small Pogoniulus simplex and one and at times two I. minor underwent sustained interactions with three Lybius leucocephalus. Playback of Lybius torquatus duets stimulated the barbets to duet frequently, which attracted both Indicator minor and I. narokensis; some sustained interactions resulted. Our findings add to the knowledge of honeyguides, and particularly demonstrate that strong interactions with potential host species (barbets) of the nest-parasitic honeyguides occur, and may take place in the absence of breeding activity of the barbets. Various questions are raised by the observations, and playback is advocated as a technique for fututre investigations that may answer these questions'--P. [1].