Repetitions and pattern switches in songs of cardinals, Cardinalis cardinalis

A correlation is established between repetitions of leading syllables in the songs of Cardinals and those which follow. The time intervals following repeated syllables relate first to acceleration at the beginning of a song but as the song progresses they relate more directly to the duration of the syllables. On the other hand the switch-intervals between different kinds of syllablles relate more to the duration of the following syllable, although acceleration at the beginning of the song may obscure the relationship.