Syd:
I have visited Mt Cootha Park many time and encountered Eastern
Whipbirds on numerous occassions. Having seen the male emit his whip
call, followed by a second bird calling from the bush. I must conclude. at
this point in time, that males are capable giving the first part of the
duet.
Your example of female Bay wrens singing first in a duet is
interesting, but please note that male and female bay wrens are
monomorphic and females sing to defend their territory from other females
- not to cement a pair bond between pairs. Males do likewise. (Having
read some of this literature I suspect, but not sure that there are more
females in the population than there are males - hence intense competition
between female Bay Wrens.) I also believe that females and males share
the same song repertorie. With regard to whipbirds, the sexes are not
monomorphic in plumage or vocal behaviour (as far as I know).
Second, I have not observed any association between occurrences of
storms and vocal behaviour; that is upcoming storms arriving hours
into the future, etc. as you suggest. Whipbirds do seem to respond,
however, to changing levels of light intensity that can occur when a
nearby storm approaches.
Cheers, Jim
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