Katedra zoológie,
Prírodovedecká fakulta Univerzita
Komenského, Ilkovičova 6, Mlynská dolina
824 15, Bratislava, Slovakia
Abstract.In most birds,males
are responsible for territory defence and mate
attraction using a song. Females’ song is less
frequent and usually produced for other reasons.
The female song has also been reported in Hazel
Grouse (Tetrastesbonasia), but has not received sufficient
attention. In the northern part of the Horná
Orava Protected Landscape Area, we recorded
songs of ten females and nine males from 2014 to
2020. Individuals were provoked by imitating a
species-specific song with a lure. This work
presents the basic acoustic traits of Hazel
Grouse song and sex-based song differences. In
addition, we point out the different functions
of the male and female songs. Specifically,
males sang longer songs at higher frequencies
than females. Moreover, in spring, males
actively responded to the imitation of the
female song, suggesting that the females attract
males by singing. In the spring and autumn,
males reacted to the imitation of songs of both
sexes, indicating that the male songs serve to
defend the territory. Females responded
exclusively to the imitation of female songs,
thus indicating that they were guarding their
partner.
Key words: Tetrastes bonasia,
female song, function of song, recognition