Notes on the vocalizations of Yellow-faced Myna (Mino dumontii) and Long-tailed Myna (Mino kreffti)

In the following we briefly analyze and compare voice of Yellow-faced Myna (Mino dumontii) and Long-tailed Myna (Mino kreffti). We also try to quantify the extent of any vocal differences using the criteria proposed by Tobias et al. (2010), as a support for taxonomic review. We have made use of sound recordings available on-line from Xeno Canto (XC).

dumontii: Voice includes a variety of low-pitched nasal and growling notes. Some examples (illustrated with sonograms in the pdf version of this note).

kreffti: Voice includes a variety of squealing or squawking, rather high-pitched notes, which are quite drawn-out. Some examples (including from the Bismarck archipelago).

There can be little doubt about the vocal distinctiveness of both taxa. Based on the note frequency range (of the fundamental frequency) and the average length of notes, a total vocal score of about 3 + 2 = 5 seems likely.

This note was finalized on 18th April 2016, using sound recordings available on-line at that moment. We would like to thank in particular the sound recordists who placed their recordings for this species on XC: Patrik Åberg, Mike Catsis, Phil Gregory, Niels Krabbe, Frank Lambert and Bas van Balen.

References

Tobias, J.A., Seddon, N., Spottiswoode, C.N., Pilgrim, J.D., Fishpool, L.D.C. & Collar, N.J. (2010). Quantitative criteria for species delimitation. Ibis 152(4): 724–746.

More Information: on297_yellow-faced_myna.pdf