Acoustic and perceptual categories for vocal signals in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus).

• DOI: 10.1121/1.3249396
• Publication Date: 2009-10-07T13:39:20Z
• Authors: Hsiao-Wei Tu; Michael S. Osmanski; Robert J. Dooling
• Keywords: Melopsittacus; Budgerigar; Similarity (geometry)

The budgerigar has an extraordinarily complex, learned, vocal repertoire consisting of both long rambling warble and a number shorter calls produced as single utterances. contact call is the most frequently vocalization by budgerigars, it bears strong resemblance to short (about 150-ms), frequency-modulated elements that make up 25% sounds warble. Using signal processing psychophysical techniques we examined whether these two vocalizations represent different phonological systems or are used in situations. Warble were recorded from four male budgerigars. For each bird, utterances call-like on acoustic dimensions. Psychophysical tests showed distinct perceptual categories. Finally, comparison percent correct response latencies across indicates birds perceive similarity between same bird. In sum, show categories correspond complex they [Work supported NIH/NIDCD R01DC000198 R.J.D.]