Search

It has been suggested that the bush warbler (Cettia diphone borealis) uses different song types in various situations. We analyzed song features and conducted playback experiments in order to reveal the function of songs of the bush warbler. Two song types were identified. The short song type has a shorter song duration than that of normal song types and consists of only one or two syllables. Due to its short syllable and low amplitude of the whistle portion, we were able to discriminate the short song type (S song type). from the normal song type (N song Type). In the playback experiments, bush warblers sang high rates of short song type for the first three minutes after playback. After 6 minutes of playback, males changed to singing normal songs. These results suggest that the short song of the bush warbler may function to threaten or drive off intruding males.

Some resident birds widen their habitat ranges during the non-breeding season. Their wintering habitats may be determined not only by quality of habitats but also by their connectivity to source habitats. In this study, we extract some possible stepping-stone corridors and evaluate which corridors explain the presence/absence of four resident birds–the Bush Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Varied Tit, and Masked Grosbeak–in possible wintering habitats in Kyoto City. Bird surveys were conducted in 18 woods (> 0.6 ha): almost all-potential breeding patches for these four species in the urban area of Kyoto. I assume the mountain forests around the city and patches in which each bird species was recorded during the breeding season to be their source habitats, and assess whether corridors connect their source and possible wintering habitats. A 15 × 15 m resolution vegetation cover ratio (VCR) map was derived from Terra/ASTER and Quick Bird images. We assumed the minimum VCR for stepping-stones to be 0.25 and created buffer zones from each stepping-stone at four distances: 50 m, 75 m, 100 m, and 125 m. Four types of corridors were extracted from the contiguous buffer zones. The maximum interval between stepping-stones was twice the distance of the created buffer. The maximum interval for suitable corridors evaluated by maximum Cohen’s kappa, maximum overall prediction success, and minimum interval for which more than 80% of the actual wintering habitats connect to the source habitats were, respectively, 200m (kappa 0.25), 200- 250 m (75% success), and 200m (89% connection) for the Bush Warbler; 100 m (0.12, 58%) and 150 m (80%) for the Long-tailed Tit; 100 m (1.0, 100%, 100%) for the Varied Tit; 100 m (0.29, 64%) and 250 m (100%) for the Masked Grosbeak. Though further analysis may be necessary, these results give us some indication regarding the size of the interval between stepping-stones necessary for planning ecological corridors.

Plasma levels of testosterone and corticosterone were measured in free-living male bush warblers captured on their breeding ground at different times of the breeding season. Their territoriality was also estimated from their singing response to song playbacks. The pattern of change detected in the levels of plasma testosterone was different from that of “typical” monogamous species but similar to that of polygynous species. In “typical” monogamous species, plasma testosterone levels elevated during territory settlement and courtship behavior and then declined to low, stable levels during incubation. In bush warblers, plasma levels of testosterone were already high (1–2 ng/ml) upon arrival in late March and peaked (2.5–4 ng/ml) in early June. They then decreased but relatively high levels were maintained until early August. In late August the testosterone concentration was 0.03 ng/ml or less. Plasma levels of corticosterone also showed a seasonal change, being highest in May to July and declining in late August. Territoriality showed clear seasonality, reflecting the levels of circulating testosterone. Upon arrival, latency periods for responses to song playback were long and singing activity was rather low but this behavior was soon stabilized and a high degree of territoriality was maintained to late August. These results suggest that high levels of circulating testosterone and corticosterone allow males to pursue a polygynous breeding strategy, to hold a territory, and to maintain breeding activity for a prolonged period, characteristics which are likely to be adaptations to dense bushes with high rates of predation and brood parasitism of this species.

We describe a new species of Cettia from the Crown Prince Range, Bougainville Island, North Solomons Province, Papua New Guinea. By combining morphometric and molecular phylogenetic techniques, we attempt to broaden our understanding of evolutionary processes within the genus Cettia in the southwest Pacific. The new species proves to be distinct with respect to several morphological characteristics that are most probably related to a more terrestrial lifestyle than that of its congeners. Molecular data agree with morphological data in establishing that these birds are at least as distinct from the other island forms of Cettia as those forms are from each other, far exceeding intraspecific variation. These data and the restricted distribution of the population on Bougainville strongly support recognition of a new species. The application of molecular phylogenetic techniques also supports the idea that the new species and other island forms of Cettia confined to mountains on southwest Pacific islands are derived from a single common ancestor rather than being independently derived from one or more mainland forms. In addition, the relatively recent discovery of two new species of Cettia suggests that additional forms await discovery in other poorly known areas of the southwest Pacific. Our results point to the need for further molecular studies and for additional field research into the distribution and ecology of forest songbirds on islands.

1. Bird accidents recorded during 1965-1972 on highway passing 8km through the warm zone mixed forest of Ise Shrine ground were investigated 563 times in total.2. This highway, with the width of 6.5m had a traffic of average 1, 500 cars/day in 1965 when it was opened. The traffic increased about 3.5 times by 1972 and the bird accidents (the annual relative kill) also increased 3.2 times during these 8 years.3. The frequencies of No. bird kill/No. observation were 2/48 (1965), 6/120 (1966), 8/118 (1967), 8/95 (196), 8/80 (1969), 5/65 (1970), 5/37 (1972), with the total of 42 birds killed/365 observations (1965-1972), and increase from 7.4% annual relative kill in 1965 to 23.5% in 1972.4. Bird accidents included 10 families, 18 species, comprising 72.2% residents, 16.7% winter visitors and 1/3 of the total of 42 kills were young birds.5. The species of highest kill rate was 21.4% of redstart Phoenicurus auroreus, the 14% of Emberiza cioides, 7.1% of Cettia diphone, Parus varius and Streptopelia orientalis etc. and ground feeding Turdus included three species.6. Seasonally, the highway kill of 19% of the total in March was the highest and the monthly kill was 10% during November to February, the winter kills from November to April occupying 87% of the total, which was about 3 times more frequent than in summer period.7. The cause of death confirmed included 33% cranial internal hoemorrhages, and 14% visceral haemorrhages, which were caused by liver or even aortic breaks.8. The accidents of birds were concentrated at 9 places along the highway of 8km. At these points small valley (s) with the width of 2-5m crossed the road at right angle, but at a broad open cross point of two big roads birds that move by low flight, such as bush warbler, pale ouzel, etc., were found dead.9. Some observations showed that road-side birds would take off with the speed of 30-60km/h, and car speed retained at about 40km/h may usually be safe for the birds from being struck at.

For the one form, Cettia diphone cantans, of Bush Warbler, it is well known that the colouration of the sexes is identical and that the general size is considerably different between them, though the numerical data of wing length have not been published sufficiently. An aim of this paper is to find a sexing criterion of cantans in autumn routine ringing. The data of this paper were obtained at Otayama Bird Observatory during autumn ringing from 1974 to 1981. One hundred and twenty birds were composed of 92 first winter juveniles and 28 adults. The measurements of wing and tail lengths of these birds are given in Table 1, and Figs. 1-4. Both wing and tail lengths were apparently bimodal. Based on the frequency distribution of wing length, these birds were divided into two groups; Group-A, birds have wings shorter than 61mm, and Group-B have wings longer than 60mm. It seems that these two groups are females and males, respectively. The separation point of the sexes as a criterion was proposed: the birds have wings (1) shorter than 61mm are females, (2) longer than 62mm are males, and it is safe to write (3) 61mm or 62mm are not decidable.

1. The Japanese Marsh Warbler Megalurus pryeri is a very localized endemic relic species, known from Aomori to Pacific side of Honshu. In 1973, it was first found in Akita at an small reed area remaining at an uncultivated corner of Hachirogata reclaimed land. Its breeding ecology was investigated by the author during June to September 1973 and 1974.2. At present, the reclaimed farmland is about 2, 340ha and reed bed occupied about 62.6% of uncultivated area in 1973, decreasing to 11.7% in 1974.3. This Marsh Warbler had apparently been concentrated in the western half of the reclaimed land of Hachirogata. Its male count was 29 birds in 1973, increasing to 53 birds in 1974. It is to be noted that both its distribution area and density has increased in 1974 (than in 1973) inspite of the decrease of reed bed area.4. Within reed bed area, its favorite habitat is characterized by mixed undergrowth community of dead previous year reed, Mischanthus sinensis, Imperata cylindrica var. Koenigii and Scirpus triqueter, etc. The area of its highest density, where half of singing males were recorded, was about 80ha of uncultivated field at western part of the reclaimed land.5. The breeding observation was made in the above concentration area. The total of nests observed was 6 in 1973 and 14 in 1974. The nests were found, 1) 55% in the reed Phragmatis communis, 2) 25% in stumb of Eulalia Mischanthus sinensis, 3) 20% in the undergrowth, and most of its nests were located at about 10.5cm above the ground.6. The nest type could be classified into: 1) Typical bowl shape, constructed by placing nest material from the bottom (Type 1) 2) Elliptic shape, resembling the nest of bush warbler Cettia diphone 3) Globular shape made of fresh grass with dead grass base. The nest of any of these types was made coarsely and fragile.Egg was laid one per day and clutch size was 5-6 eggs (av. 5.3 eggs), the egg size being av. 16.6×12.4mm.8. Eggs were incubated by female only after completion of the clutch for average 11.3 days, with the hatching rate 98.1%.9. Chicks were fed 76.8% by the female with regular intervals and 23.2% by the male with unstable frequency.10. The feeding rate per 1 chick/hour was average 0.44 times/hour by the male and 1.54 times/hour by the female, with 1.98 times/hour by both parents. The nestling period was average 12.1 days.11. Number of chick's feces was 49.7% of the total number of food given and the frequency the parents carried off chick's feces was about 50% of feeding frequency.The main chick food items, in order of frequency, were adult moth of Pyralidae, lavae of crickets Conocephalus sp. and spiders. The Pyralid moth occupied about 14.3% of the total chick foods.

Mt. Kisokoma (2, 956m above sea level) is the highest peak of the Chuo Alps, Central Honshu.Bird censuses were made throughout a year from February 1977 to February 1978 in the mid-mountain zone at 900-1, 650m altitude. Line transect method along the road is used in the census work. The total number of birds recorded was 1, 525 individuals belonging to 43 species (Table 1). The number of species and that of birds showed similar seasonal changes, i.e., maximum in the breeding season and minimum in winter. The dominant species were Pale-legged Willow Warbler Phylloscopus tenellipes, Siberian Meadow Bunting Emberiza cioides, Bush Warbler Cettia diphone, and Blue-and white Flycatcher Cyanoptila cyanomelana in breeding season and Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus, Willow Tit Parus montanus, Coal Tit Parus ater, Great Tit Parus major, and Nuthatch Sitta europaea in non-breeding season. A marked expansion of range in vertical distribution was noted for Siberian Blue Robin Erithacus cyane, Bush Warbler Cettia diphone and Blue-and-White Flycatcher Cyanoptila cyanomelana. Mixed flocks of tits were encountered in every censuses except for the three breedingmonths, and all five species of tits formed mixed flocks.

Senkado-Sancho (1799): “Schocho Shiyo Momochidori”, 90pp. Edo (Tokyo). (Rearing Methods of Various Birds) The long-day treatment with lamp stands for hastening the twittering in early spring to the Japanese bush warbler (Common manners in high class peoples in Tokugawa Era).

This paper deals with the status of Pale-footed Bush-warbler in Nepal with reference to its global distribution.DOI: 10.3126/on.v7i1.2577Our Nature (2009) 7:226-230

Background Soft song is a low-amplitude song produced by many birds. Recent studies have confirmed that soft song is an aggressive signal. For example, the Brownish-flanked Bush Warblers Cettia fortipes use soft song in male-male conflicts, particularly prior to attacks. Although stable signaling systems require that signals be honest on average, models predict that cheating is an acceptable strategy for some individuals or in some contexts. Methods This study aimed to test the reliability of soft song as an aggressive signal in the brownish-flanked bush warbler. We used mounted specimens accompanied by broadcast songs or soft songs to simulate a male attempting to invade an existing territory. Results We found the mounted specimen that coupled playback of soft songs suffered more and quicker attacks from the territory owner and that the relationship between soft song and subsequent attack in the territory owner was far from perfect. We observed territory owners that both over-signaled (i.e., produced soft song but did not attack) and under-signaled (i.e., attacked without producing soft song). Under-signaling territory owners were relatively more commonly than were over-signaling territory owners, particularly in simulated intrusion that coupled playback of soft song with a mount specimen. Conclusions We discuss the cost of producing soft song and the potential benefit of the unreliable use of soft song and propose a new hypothesis for under-signaling with soft song; i.e., under-signaling territory owners might benefit from taking the initiative in fights.

Eight specimens of the Bush Warbler struck at Hegurajima Light-house north of Noto Peninsula on 15 April, 1963 were sent to the author. These were all males which possibly preceeded the female group. This species is a partial migrant both in Sado 1. and Noto Peninsula (communications from Mr. Sato and Mr. Nagara) and thus part of the population of these northern districts may winter in warmer Kansai area.

A nest of the Short-tailed Bush Warbler, Cettia squameiceps, was found again on 14 June in 1984, in the Red Pine, Pinus densiflora forest at Tomida (altitude ca. 700m), Takagi-mura, Shimoina-gun, Nagano Prefecture. Four adult warblers simultaneously attended the nest. The nest visits of each of 4 banded birds were observed for 2, 284 bird-minutes for 5 days. The food contribution of a helper of this species was very small although a helper sang well. We found a second instance of helping at the nest of this species since our discovery in 1981. The possibility that cooperative breeding occurs more or less regularly in this species is proposed.