Notes on the vocalizations of Midget Flowerpecker (Dicaeum aeneum)

In the following we briefly analyze and compare voice of the three races of Midget Flowerpecker (Dicaeum aeneum). 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) and Macaulay Library (ML).

An overview of vocalizations (illustrated with multiple sonograms in the pdf version of this note):

aeneum N & C Solomons (Buka, Bougainville, Fauro, Shortland, Choiseul, Santa Isabel, New Georgia Is, Buena Vista, Florida Is): High-pitched buzzy call, high-pitched "tsee" call and hard "chick" call.

becki Guadalcanal, in SW Solomons: High-pitched buzzy call, high-pitched "tsee" call and hard "chick" call.

malaitae Malaita I, in E Solomons: No recordings available.

aeneum and becki share both the high-pitched buzzy call, a high-pitched "tsee" call and a hard 'chek' call. With only a few recordings of other call types, it is guessing if these are unique to one of the taxa. Based on the available recordings, we can only conclude there are no obvious vocal differences.

Voice of malaitae remains unknown (?), for which we can't draw any conclusions.  

This note was finalized on 25th 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 and ML: Niels Krabbe, Frank Lambert, Mark Robbins and Mark Todd.

 

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: on336_midget_flowerpecker.pdf