Examining variations in non-breeding songs of purple sunbirds (cinnyris asiaticus) across different locations in mohali

Abstract

Birds are an important part of the ecosystem and perform several ecosystem services. Due to anthropogenic activities and habitat loss, many species of birds are moving towards extinction. As our neighbours with whom we share our planet with we have to care for them and help them recover from this crisis. To protect them we need to know more about them. As a part of understanding birds, a variety of studies have been conducted on their behaviour, habitat, social structure, genetics and evolution. This thesis deals with understanding bird songs. Many studies trying to understand and decipher their vocal communication have been published over the years. From an evolutionary perspective, many studies provide evidence that song functions as a sexual display in many birds. This thesis attempts to explore a similar theme in a highly abundant species of sunbird in the Indian subcontinent, the Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus). IUCN has classified them as a species of least concern. Very few studies have tried to explore the structural aspects of the song in this species. This thesis looks at the structure of both notes and phrases of the songs in non-breeding season and compares its parameters between 2 locations, and also comparing it with breeding song data collected previously. Such a comparative account has provided evidence of the variation in the repertoire of notes and phrases of Purple Sunbirds depending on the distance. This is also a step toward widening the knowledge we have about the variation and divergence of bird songs between other closely related species of sunbirds.