BIOL 316 DETAILED EXAM 2025

BIOL 316 DETAILED EXAM 2025 What are the three functions of male songs important - -Dominance, attract mates, establish territory Who do birds vocalize to communicate with? - -Flock members, mates, neighbors/family members What are bird songs? - -Species specific, stereotypical vocalizations given during breeding season Which order has the most developed songs? - -Passeriformes What do the stereotypical patterns of song allow for ID of? (4) - -Species, age, sex, individuals What are songs and calls produced by? - -Syrinx What is the function of call notes in birds? - -Coordinate pair behavior, respond to threats of predation, location, individual recognition, feeding, aggression, courtship. begging, alarm Example of call notes for coordinating pair behavior? - -Canada geese honking in flight Example of call notes for responding to predation threat? - -Field sparrow chirps or crows mobbing owls When does singing peak and decline? - -Peaks during territory and nesting (breeding season) Declines during rearing of young When is morning singing peak? - -0.5 hrs before sunrise to 2.5 hrs after sunrise When is evening singing peak? - -2.5 hr before sunset to 0.5 hrs after sunset Where do birds most commonly sing from? - -Conspicuous perches, away from the nest site Where do american goldfinches sing? - -In flight How many songs a day does the song sparrow and red- eyed vireo sing? - -2300/day, 22000/day BIOL 316 BIOL 316 What weather effects decrease singing in birds? - -High winds, extreme cold/heat, heavy rain Example species with 1 or 2 song repertoires (4) - -White-throated sparrow, common yellowthroat, ovenbird, black-capped chickadee Example species with many song repertoires (4) - -Song sparrow - 10 Marsh Wren - 115 N. Mockingbird - 100-200 Brown Trasher - 2000 Examples of species which sing/call with their feathers - -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 - -Owls - clap bills when threatened Woodpeckers - drum on tree trunks Example of species that sing/calls with feet - -Sharp-tailed grouse - stomps in courtship dance When do birds delay incubation until? - -The last egg of the clutch is layed What 2 types of birds begin to incubate eggs as their laid? - -Owls and raptors What does uneven incubation of eggs lead to? - -Chicks of different sizes What is the optimal temperature to incubate eggs? - -37-38C What is a brood patch? - -bare area under the belly of bird, keep chicks warm or incubate eggs What species use a brood patch already devoid of feathers? - -Pigeons and doves The addition of what to the brood patch makes it flaccid and wrinkled? - -Fluids and white blood cells What does the skin thicken into so its not damaged by contact w/ eggs? - -Callous What species lack a brood patch? - -Waterfowl, penguins, Pelicaniformes How do waterfowl incubate? - -Line nests w down How to Gannets, boobies, murres and penguins incubate? - -W feet BIOL 316 BIOL 316 What temperature would an embryo not survive? - -26C How do most species regulate temperature? - -Alternating incubation w nest recess, rotating eggs Snow Geese incubation costs - -Rely entirely on fat reserves during incubation Lose 42% of body mass Yellow - Billed Magpie incubation costs - -Forage 1.7% of day during incubation Do both sexes incubate in the majority of species? - -Yes - 54% Precocial young - -Born w eyes open, down-covered, leave nest w/in 1-2 days Examples of species w precocial young - -Pheasants, turkeys, grouse, waterfowl, shorebirds, grebes, cranes, loons, gulls Altricial young - -Born w eyes closed, little/ no down, unable to leave nest, fed by parents Examples of altricial young - -All passeriformes Benefit of altricial young - -Rapid growth, which minimizes time in the nest and exposure to predation Con of altricial young - -Young are sedentary and vulnurable Benefit of precocial young - -Slower growth rate - minimizes food demands Rapid evacuation of nest - minimizes predation Con of precocial young - -Slower growth rate = longer time until independance Who feeds nestlings in polyamorous species? (ex- hummingbird) - -Female only What are the two example species where the female abandons the nest and brood rearing duties are left to the male? - -English robin and house wren What is the example species for a 50/50 split of brood rearing between males and females? - -European coot In most species (many cases) who spends more time brooding young and who spends the more time feeding? - -Female - Brooding Male - Feeding BIOL 316 BIOL 316 What type of food are young birds fed? - -High protein - Insects, fruits, seeds and animal matter How are altricial young fed? - -Directly from beak of parent What is the benefit of feeding young regurgitated food? - -Parents can carry more food to young, digestive juices aid in digestion Example species that regurgitate food in front of nestlings? - -Gulls and storks Example species where young plunge into adult gullets? - -Penguins and pelicans What is pigeons milk? - -Milk secreted from fat cells shed from the epithelial tissues of crop Stimulated by prolactin How often do seabirds, swifts and large raptors feed their young? - -1-2x/day How often does the Sooty Shearwater feed its young? - -Every other night How often does the bald eagle feed its young? - -4-5x/day How often does the barn own feed its young? - -10x/night How often does the great tit make foraging trips? - -900-1000x/day How do most altricial species sanitize the nest? - -Remove fecal sacks immediately How do species that dont conceal the nest keep santiation? - -Young defecate over side What does brooding do? - -Dries down, maintains warmth When was the first nest of the marbled auklet discovered? - -1987 Scrape nests - -Simple depressions in ground or leaf litter Protected w/ camouflage Ground nests - -Simple nests of natural materials formed into a mound Floating mats - -Nests that float in shallow water Often anchored at 1-2 points Platform nests - -Flat nests located on ground, in trees or on tops of vegetation in water Location provides saftey Burrow nests - -nest under ground BIOL 316 BIOL 316 Effective in protecting eggs/ young and maintaining microclimates Cavity nests - -built inside a tree or similar cavity safter than open nests What is a primary cavity nester? - -Construct their own cavities (ex- woodpecker) What is a secondary cavity nester? - -Use natural cavities or those previously constructed Cupped nests - -Distinct cup for eggs/nestlings Often supported by branches of trees/shrubs Pensile nests - -Stiff, cupped nests suspended from rims/ sides Pendulous nests - -Woven long basket nests suspended by rim Adherent nests - -Cupped nests attached by adhesive substance to vertical surface What does the edible swift build its nest out of? - -Saliva In monogamous and poly species who builds the nest? - -Monogamous - both sexes Poly - Female only Who builds the strongest, warmest and most complex nests? - -Passerines Functions of nests (4) - -Protection, microclimate suitability, site for young until fledging, roosting chamber for adults Example species that have camouflaged eggs - -Spotted sandpiper, killdeer, piping plover, terns Where do seabirds such as auks, auklets and puffins nest? - -Steep cliffs Where do swifts nest? - -Deep in caves or chimneys Where do peregrine falcons nest? - -On inaccessible cliff sites What do adult birds rely on to prevent predation? - -Cryptic coloration and distraction What is a waterfowl method for deterrent of egg predation? - -Defecation on eggs Example of species aggressive towards predators - -Arctic tern, great horned own, goshawk, osprey Kingbirds, mockingbirds