Date: 7/1/25 10:54 am From: Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Scarlet Tanager Omaha
Very nice information, Ross. You always amaze me with your knowledge and
continued sharing of this knowledge.
We are blessed to have you as record-keeper and database for all things
"birdy".
God Bless.
*Paul O. Roisen*
*Woodbury County, IA*
*Mobile 712-301-2817*
On Tue, Jul 1, 2025 at 11:26 AM Ross Silcock via groups.io <silcock=
<rosssilcock.com...> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Copilot to the rescue. I'd guess my highlighted reasons are most likely
> for tanagers and cuckoos.
>
> *Why Passerines Sing in Fall*
>
> - *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.
> - *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.
> - *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.
> - *Hormonal Triggers*: Some species, like European Starlings,
> experience a post-molt spike in testosterone, which can reignite singing
> behavior even outside the breeding season3.
> - *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
>
> Co-editor Birds of Nebraska Online
> Editor Seasonal Reports, Nebraska Bird Review.
>
>
>
