>Ecological data shows the populations have been separated for a long
>time. They look slightly different, and all have somewhat different calls.
John,
The interesting thing with the Cicadabirds are that they are migratory or
at least partially migratory. And when considering the diversity of the
Cicadabirds throughout PNG and Indonesia for example it would not surprise
me to find out that we are dealing with two species. If they are the same
species it is even more amazing because it means that we could be dealing
with a species that calls differently as at moves from one location to the
next.
The rainforest Cicadabird calls near Cairns seemed very similar to the
DARWIN birds. So you may appreciate how surprised we were to learn that
both calls occur almost geographically together.
Another strange thing is that (from my personal experience} all
of the Southern Cicadabirds seem to prefer wet or dry sclerephyll forest.
At least I cannot recall any actually in rainforest. Either way its very
interesting and would appear rather like the situation we have or had
with the zoothera's.
regards
Tony
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