Philip:
You have raised some interesting questions that I hestitate to address
because I am still uncertain where to draw the line. As you mentioned
timing of each bird's singing-performances may prove useful in identifying
duetting, e.g. Eastern Whipbird. With regard to the Australian Magpie I
lean towards not using it as an example of dueting, but instead an example
of carroling - any number of birds in a magpie group will sing together.
By definition, duetting seems to be limited to one male and one female
that are paired. However, if a female is capable of singing this doesn't
necessary mean that she needs to join her mate in a duet. There are many
Australian birds in which the female sings but don't participate in
duets (e.g. fairy-wrens).
Cheers, Jim
Dr. Wm. James Davis, Editor
Interpretive Birding Bulletin
On Wed, 8 Jul 1998, Philip A Veerman wrote:
> You haven't seen Magpie-larks duetting? They do it all the time! They
> probably do more of their calls as a duet than individually. A pair will
> perch together and alternately call and indulge in a little wing raising
> display. It is probably difficult to define duetting as an unusual thing.
> Many birds do it. Where do you distinguish between duetting and just calling
> to each other. Is the timing important? Butcherbirds, Magpies and Currawongs
> do it. So do Cuckoos.
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