Date: 7/1/25 9:26 am From: Ross Silcock via groups.io <silcock...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Scarlet Tanager Omaha
Hi all,
Copilot to the rescue. I'd guess my highlighted reasons are most likely for tanagers and cuckoos.
Why Passerines Sing in Fall
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Territory Defense: Many resident species like Bewick’s Wrens and Song Sparrows stay put year-round. As young birds disperse in autumn, adults sing to reassert their winter territories and discourage intruders.
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Social Structuring: In flocking species like White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows, song helps establish social hierarchies within winter flocks. It’s less about romance and more about rank.
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Practice Makes Perfect: Juvenile birds often rehearse their songs in fall. These “subsong” attempts—think of them as the bird version of vocal warm-ups—help them refine the complex tunes they’ll need come spring.
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Hormonal Triggers: Some species, like European Starlings, experience a post-molt spike in testosterone, which can reignite singing behavior even outside the breeding season3.
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Photoperiod Sensitivity: Others, like White-crowned Sparrows, are less hormonally driven in fall but still sing for social cohesion. Interestingly, even females and juveniles may join in, suggesting song serves broader purposes than just mating.
Ross
Ross Silcock
6810 Tournament Drive,
Houston, TX 77069
