Unusual Songs in Passerine Birds

Author Institution: Faculty of Population and Environmental Biology, The Ohio State University, 1735 Neil Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43210Unusual songs of passerine birds fall into five categories: (1) special songs, sung only under certain circumstances, and considered unusual only because they are seldom heard; (2) developmental stages of primary song; (3) songs resembling those of another species (mimicry); (4) song types outside their usual geographic range, and rare or accidental where heard; and (5) atypical songs. Songs of each category are discussed, and illustrated with examples