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'Alternative' calls in Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita |
© A. R. Dean
On April 15th 2011, near Meriden, West Midlands, this Chiffchaff - a standard nominate collybita - gave a so-called 'alternative call' persistently. It delivered a downward inflected 'sweeoo' every one or two seconds for several minutes. It was one of 14 employing this call observed on that date, with many others heard during April elsewhere in the West Midlands region (90+ during the month). Smaller numbers were still to be heard through May, into the post-migration period, confirming that at least some individuals were locally breeding nominate collybita (see also 'Mixed pair, call-wise' below).
Such 'alternative' calls are well-known from Autumn juveniles but it has often been claimed that they are rarely heard after mid-October (see Article on 'Siberian Chiffchaff'). In fact, 'alternative' calls can also be heard at times in the Winter (see for example Copete & Armada 2004) and on occasions from adults during the breeding season, especially during pair formation. Experience across Europe shows that, in some years, such calls become dominant in various countries, principally in Autumn but occasionally in Spring and through the breeding season (e.g. Schwarz 1954, Lindholm (on-line) 2009, Hoffmann 2010). In a study in Germany in 2009, Hoffmann concluded that individuals using the 'sweeoo' call did so consistently and it reflected individual disposition rather than the transient mood or intention of the caller. However, individuals may well call more frequently at certain stages of the breeding cycle, so those adopting this call will use it with increased prominence at such times (see 'Mixed pair call-wise' below). In Sweden (Magnus Hellström in lit.), a number of individuals using the 'sweeoo' call have been trapped and DNA and stable isotope samples taken, which may clarify whether or not such individuals tend to originate from one particular subspecies or geographical origin. So far data is limited but suggests that such instances are not synchronized Europe-wide but occur randomly in place and time. No real explanation for this periodic prevalence of an 'alternative' call has been forthcoming but it presumably has some correlation with social interactions or population density. Currently, the UK population of Chiffchaffs is relatively high and on an increasing trend (BTO data). Perhaps a high incidence of the 'sweeoo' call may follow a good breeding season, with a 'critical mass' of first-summer individuals retaining the call into their second calendar-year fand this then spreading through the population (e.g. the 'infectious' description applied in BWP to one of the alternative calls - see footnote).
From direct correspondence and from discussion on the web forum Surfbirds, Chiffchaffs using the 'sweeoo' call seem to have been especially numerous throughout the UK during the Spring of 2011, in many areas well-outnumbering individuals giving the traditionally standard, softer, rising 'huit' or 'hweet'.
On April 20th and 22nd, of sixteen Chiffchaffs heard calling at two sites in the West Midlands, twelve gave the 'sweeoo' call and only four the more traditional 'hüit' or 'hweet'. Several individuals were sound-recorded and examples follow.
Downward-inflected 'sweeoo' call (Sonogram: Fig. 1a)
An individual giving a series of 'sweeoo' calls and also a rapidly doubled 'sweeoo-sweeoo' at one point (sounding like 'swee-swee'). (Sonogram: Fig. 2)
A variation of the 'sweeoo' call. The sonograms (Fig. 1b &Fig. 3) show a 'split' or 'sinusoidal' variant comprising two juxtaposed rising components, weakly linked, with the second starting from a lower frequency. However, the frequencies of the two rising components barely overlap, with the pitch of the second significantly lower, so the result suggests a downward inflection to the human ear.
For comparison, the traditional, more gentle and rising 'huit' call. (Sonogram: Fig. 1c)
An individual giving a series of 'huit' calls. (Sonogram: Fig. 4)
Below are sonograms of these calls:
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Fig. 1. Sonograms of: (a) downward-inflected 'sweeoo', (b) variant 'sweeoo' and (c) traditional 'huit'.
Fig. 2. A series of downward inflected 'sweeoo' calls. Shape is that of an inverted V.
Fig. 3. Variant of the 'sweeoo' call. Comprises
two weakly-linked rising components, with second starting from a lower frequency.
The frequencies of the two rising components barely overlap, so the call still
sounds downward inflected.
Fig. 4 Traditional, gentle, rising 'huit' call.
In the West Midlands in 2011, adult Chiffchaffs using the fulsome 'sweeoo' or a sharper 'sweeu' version of the call were to be heard in all months from March to July, after which juveniles (as expected) were also to be heard using the call. From late May, the total number of callers was reduced (presumably as passage came to a close) but from about mid-June, among this reduced population, the number of 'huit' callers began to match or exceed the number of 'sweeoo' callers. Also, among 'sweeoo' callers, a higher incidence of the clipped 'sweeu' version was encountered, though the latter was not invariably sharper than the former. Some individuals swapped between a fulsome 'sweeoo' and a clipped 'sweeu'. From late summer, a rather strident 'hweet' became commonplace. Throughout, with all these non-standard calls, prolonged bouts of persistent calling from Chiffchaffs were widespread and very prevalent, suggesting a relatively high 'population density'.
recording of individual on July 15h 20ll using full 'sweeoo' and clipped 'sweeu' (Sonogram: Fig. 5)
Fig 5. Chiffchaff calling with both full 'sweoo' and slightly clipped 'sweeu'. Note much-truncated descending 'tail' on the 'sweeu' call.
In the study in Germany, Hoffmann (2010) found that the use of different calls by members of a pair was unusual. On July 11th in Warwickshire, two Chiffchaffs were heard in the distance calling to each other, with one using a classic, melodic, rising 'huit' while the other used the strident, higher-pitched and slightly clipped version of the 'sweeoo' call ('sweeu'). After tracking down the two, they appeared to be a pair, with the 'huit' coming from the male (also heard singing) and the clipped 'sweeu' from the presumed female. In a short space of time the female was seen on three occasions carrying food to assumed nest site or perhaps to unseen and recently fledged young (see photo above). She was apparently able to call in the process, with a brief cessation in calling only at the presumed point of food delivery. Both birds appeared quite settled in their behaviour and the prolonged exchange of calls, which preceded and continued after any visible human presence, perhaps indicated a brood at or near the point of fledging. Calling by females feeding young is known to be frequent, 'especially nearer fledging' (BWP6 / Relations within family group). A 'tending call' (which is apparently rather variable - see footnote and BWP6 / Voice) is associated primarily with females, which may be related perhaps to the different calls employed by the two individuals.
Extended recording of the call exchange between the two birds
Short extract (Sonogram: Fig. 6)
Fig. 6. Apparent pair of Chiffchaffs, with male using 'huit' call and female using 'sweeu' call
As well as the different structure of the calls, note the higher pitch and more strident timbre of the 'sweeu' call.
The repertoire of calls from juveniles in particular is very varied and a given individual may utter a variety of calls. On July 29th 2011 in the West Midlands, a Chiffchaff was recorded giving three very different calls within the space of ten seconds. The third call had a hint of Yellow-browed Warbler about it.
3 variant calls in a ten-second period from a single Chiffchaff
Fig. 7. 3 different variant calls with a ten second period from a single Chiffchaff
Footnote: The section on ‘Voice’ in the account on Common Chiffchaff in BWP6 provides extensive commentary on calls, with calls grouped according to their perceived functions. It is acknowledged that several transcriptions may refer to the same call and that there is also some uncertainty into which group certain calls should be placed. However, contact and alarm calls (group 3) are divided into three types. Renditions under 3a include notes which can be equated with the ‘huit’ call and the ‘sweeoo’ call, with the latter described as:
' ... mainly a long-retained juvenile call but also given by adults (in certain years and places) on breeding grounds (Schwarz 1954a, b)'.
Thereafter, call 3b, designated as ‘Tending-call’, is transcribed as:
' .. a short ‘füt’ .. given mainly by females (very rarely by males) as contact call with dependent young’,
with the comment:
‘In some females difficult to distinguish from hweet call in others easy (Homann 1960)’.
Finally, call 3c, designated as an alarm call is transcribed as:
‘.. sharp, loud ‘fiet’ given by both sexes when disturbed, also spontaneously in autumn, when infectious (Homann 1960; Homann & Gwinner 1963; Radford 1989).’
Unfortunately, there are no sonograms for 3b and 3c while the comment for 3b implies a rather wide compass! Hence, it is difficult to interpret these call descriptions precisely, how they may fit into the spectrum of so-called 'alternative calls' or whether either 3b or 3c could have similarities to a clipped or truncated ‘sweeoo’ call. However, as the ‘sweeoo’ call is traditionally associated with juveniles, it is tempting to think that it may have some derivation from an adult ‘contact call with dependent young’ and/or an ‘alarm call which is also given spontaneously in autumn, when infectious’.
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