From forest to city: singing pattern of oriental magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis) in peri-urban localities of Dehradun, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17899361Keywords:
Urban Noise, Bird Song Adaptation, Acoustic Communication, Song PlasticityAbstract
Bird song is essential for communication, territory defence, and mate attraction, yet it is influenced by environmental factors. This study investigates the singing patterns of the Oriental magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis), examining how urbanization and habitat variation affect vocalization. Systematic field recordings and acoustic analyses were conducted in both forested and urban areas of the Dehradun Forest Division, India. Spectrograms were used to identify song components, frequency ranges, and modifications. Results showed that while the overall singing patterns remained broadly similar between the two habitats—suggesting that the species maintains its core vocal structure despite environmental differences—significant variation was observed in specific acoustic features. Notably, urban populations exhibited higher maximum frequencies compared to their forest counterparts. In addition, a greater number of individuals in urban areas showed variation in song, including the addition and deletion of elements. Urban birds also demonstrated greater song plasticity, likely modifying song components to maintain effective communication in noisier environments.References
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