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I guess I am a little perplexed by this whole
conversation.
Obviously I wasnt there with the
original observation of mimicry.
I have kept a number of species of quail, although not
Stubble quail for any length of time, but I have looked after them and had
friends who kept them.
To me, the contact call of pippits can be similar
to stubble quail. At close proximity, pippits calls are quite loud and I have
thought, at the time, it may be confused with S quail. The field guides
that I have, seem to describe the calls very similarly.
My hearing is not great. But wouldnt the simplest
explanation be that the pippits were giving their normal contact
call.
Now, why a pippits call and stubble quail call are
similar is a different question. It may be because of habitat (and the dynamics
of sound) or perhaps due to mimicry or convergence through evolution due to
ecology, although I cant at present think of why.
Many species of birds may mimic other birds, some are
better than others. Many contact calls, alarm calls, feeding calls, and
'comfort' calls (close contact) are similar 'across' species that are not
related. Is this chance? a result of habitat? Or from mimicry? I think many of
these questions are still to be answered.
Benj Whitworth
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