BIOL 316 - Exam 3 Questions and Answers Already Passed Latest Update 2025-2026
What are the three functions of male songs *important - Answers Dominance, attract mates,
establish territory
Who do birds vocalize to communicate with? - Answers Flock members, mates,
neighbors/family members
What are bird songs? - Answers Species specific, stereotypical vocalizations given during
breeding season
Which order has the most developed songs? - Answers Passeriformes
What do the stereotypical patterns of song allow for ID of? (4) - Answers Species, age, sex,
individuals
What are songs and calls produced by? - Answers Syrinx
What is the function of call notes in birds? - Answers Coordinate pair behavior, respond to
threats of predation, location, individual recognition, feeding, aggression, courtship. begging,
alarm
Example of call notes for coordinating pair behavior? - Answers Canada geese honking in flight
Example of call notes for responding to predation threat? - Answers Field sparrow chirps or
crows mobbing owls
When does singing peak and decline? - Answers Peaks during territory and nesting (breeding
season)
Declines during rearing of young
When is morning singing peak? - Answers 0.5 hrs before sunrise to 2.5 hrs after sunrise
When is evening singing peak? - Answers 2.5 hr before sunset to 0.5 hrs after sunset
Where do birds most commonly sing from? - Answers Conspicuous perches, away from the
nest site
Where do american goldfinches sing? - Answers In flight
How many songs a day does the song sparrow and red- eyed vireo sing? - Answers 2300/day,
22000/day
What weather effects decrease singing in birds? - Answers High winds, extreme cold/heat,
heavy rain
Example species with 1 or 2 song repertoires (4) - Answers White-throated sparrow, common
, yellowthroat, ovenbird, black-capped chickadee
Example species with many song repertoires (4) - Answers Song sparrow - 10
Marsh Wren - 115
N. Mockingbird - 100-200
Brown Trasher - 2000
Examples of species which sing/call with their feathers - Answers Ruffed grouse - drums on log
Nighthawk - whooms in flight
Willow's snipe - winnows in flight
Woodcock - twinkles by striking primaries
Doves - whistle with wing tips
Examples of species that sing/ call with their beak - Answers Owls - clap bills when threatened
Woodpeckers - drum on tree trunks
Example of species that sing/calls with feet - Answers Sharp-tailed grouse - stomps in courtship
dance
When do birds delay incubation until? - Answers The last egg of the clutch is layed
What 2 types of birds begin to incubate eggs as their laid? - Answers Owls and raptors
What does uneven incubation of eggs lead to? - Answers Chicks of different sizes
What is the optimal temperature to incubate eggs? - Answers 37-38C
What is a brood patch? - Answers bare area under the belly of bird, keep chicks warm or
incubate eggs
What species use a brood patch already devoid of feathers? - Answers Pigeons and doves
The addition of what to the brood patch makes it flaccid and wrinkled? - Answers Fluids and
white blood cells
What does the skin thicken into so its not damaged by contact w/ eggs? - Answers Callous
What species lack a brood patch? - Answers Waterfowl, penguins, Pelicaniformes
How do waterfowl incubate? - Answers Line nests w down
How to Gannets, boobies, murres and penguins incubate? - Answers W feet
What are the three functions of male songs *important - Answers Dominance, attract mates,
establish territory
Who do birds vocalize to communicate with? - Answers Flock members, mates,
neighbors/family members
What are bird songs? - Answers Species specific, stereotypical vocalizations given during
breeding season
Which order has the most developed songs? - Answers Passeriformes
What do the stereotypical patterns of song allow for ID of? (4) - Answers Species, age, sex,
individuals
What are songs and calls produced by? - Answers Syrinx
What is the function of call notes in birds? - Answers Coordinate pair behavior, respond to
threats of predation, location, individual recognition, feeding, aggression, courtship. begging,
alarm
Example of call notes for coordinating pair behavior? - Answers Canada geese honking in flight
Example of call notes for responding to predation threat? - Answers Field sparrow chirps or
crows mobbing owls
When does singing peak and decline? - Answers Peaks during territory and nesting (breeding
season)
Declines during rearing of young
When is morning singing peak? - Answers 0.5 hrs before sunrise to 2.5 hrs after sunrise
When is evening singing peak? - Answers 2.5 hr before sunset to 0.5 hrs after sunset
Where do birds most commonly sing from? - Answers Conspicuous perches, away from the
nest site
Where do american goldfinches sing? - Answers In flight
How many songs a day does the song sparrow and red- eyed vireo sing? - Answers 2300/day,
22000/day
What weather effects decrease singing in birds? - Answers High winds, extreme cold/heat,
heavy rain
Example species with 1 or 2 song repertoires (4) - Answers White-throated sparrow, common
, yellowthroat, ovenbird, black-capped chickadee
Example species with many song repertoires (4) - Answers Song sparrow - 10
Marsh Wren - 115
N. Mockingbird - 100-200
Brown Trasher - 2000
Examples of species which sing/call with their feathers - Answers Ruffed grouse - drums on log
Nighthawk - whooms in flight
Willow's snipe - winnows in flight
Woodcock - twinkles by striking primaries
Doves - whistle with wing tips
Examples of species that sing/ call with their beak - Answers Owls - clap bills when threatened
Woodpeckers - drum on tree trunks
Example of species that sing/calls with feet - Answers Sharp-tailed grouse - stomps in courtship
dance
When do birds delay incubation until? - Answers The last egg of the clutch is layed
What 2 types of birds begin to incubate eggs as their laid? - Answers Owls and raptors
What does uneven incubation of eggs lead to? - Answers Chicks of different sizes
What is the optimal temperature to incubate eggs? - Answers 37-38C
What is a brood patch? - Answers bare area under the belly of bird, keep chicks warm or
incubate eggs
What species use a brood patch already devoid of feathers? - Answers Pigeons and doves
The addition of what to the brood patch makes it flaccid and wrinkled? - Answers Fluids and
white blood cells
What does the skin thicken into so its not damaged by contact w/ eggs? - Answers Callous
What species lack a brood patch? - Answers Waterfowl, penguins, Pelicaniformes
How do waterfowl incubate? - Answers Line nests w down
How to Gannets, boobies, murres and penguins incubate? - Answers W feet
