Differential response of males of a subarctic population of Bluethroat Luscinina svecica svecica to playbacks of their own and foreign subspecies

Abstract

In a first experimental test of whether differences in song parameters between subspecies of Bluethroat are biologically relevant, we compared responses of L. s. svecica males in Abisko, Sweden, to songs it their own and different subspecies, and observed significant differences in agressive and singing behaviour.

Keywords

• Luscinia svecica
• Subspecies recognition
• Song variation
• aggressive behavior
• Playback experiments