Vocalizations of the Kittlitz's Murrelet

Condor
By: , and 

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Abstract

We present the first documentation of Kittlitz's Murrelet (Brachyramphus brevirostris) vocalizations, based on recordings made in Glacier Bay, Alaska, in 1994. We identified two apparently related types of calls: groan and quack. The Kittlitz's Murrelet calls were markedly different from the most common calls of the congeneric Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus), but shared characteristics with the Marbled Murrelet's less common 'groan' call. Phylogeny, breeding biology, and habitat characteristics may explain relationships between the congeneric vocalizations. More complete knowledge of the Kittlitz's Murrelet vocal repertoire is needed before vocalizations can be either used or discarded in the design of effective programs to monitor this rare and poorly-known species.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Vocalizations of the Kittlitz's Murrelet
Series title Condor
DOI 10.2307/1370003
Volume 101
Issue 2
Year Published 1999
Language English
Publisher The Cooper Ornithological Society
Contributing office(s) Alaska Science Center
Description 4 p.
First page 395
Last page 398
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