Vocal individuality of male Western Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus calls, an ambisonic bio-acoustic approach

Abstract

Capsule Male Western Capercaillies Tetrao urogallus use their vocalizations during the breeding season for territorial and reproductive purposes, and these have genetically predefined characteristics that confer each bird with a unique and distinguishable vocal signature.

Aims To investigate whether call components allow discrimination between different individual Western Capercaillie males.

Methods We used ambisonic technology, capable of recording in closed forests and at long ranges, to record and analyse the calls of 12 male Western Capercaillies during the courtship season on seven lek areas of the Alt Pirineu Natural Parc, in north-east Spain. We measured call variables relative to the fundamental frequency and the duration of the song components. A supervised cluster analysis evaluated the power of call characteristics for inter-individual discrimination and correct classification of vocalizations to each individual.

Results All measured characteristics of vocalizations showed significant differences between males. Supervised cluster analysis showed that audio recordings were identifiable to individual males.

Conclusion Calls of male Western Capercaillies could be individually identified and differentiated from each other through their bioacoustic characteristics. This may have applications in improving the monitoring and management of the species, allowing for the future development of non-invasive bioacoustic tools for the identification of individual males.

Peer Reviewed

15 - Vida d'Ecosistemes Terrestres

Postprint (author's final draft)