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Updated: Nov 20, 2025

Eliciting and Analyzing Male Mouse Ultrasonic Vocalization USV Songs
Published on: May 9, 2017
Dynamics behind rough sounds in the song of the Pitangus sulphuratus
Juan F Döppler1,2, Ana Amador1,2, Franz Goller3,4
1Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1428, Argentina.
Abstract:
The complex vocalizations found in different bird species emerge from the interplay between morphological specializations and neuromuscular control mechanisms. In this work we study the dynamical mechanisms used by a nonlearner bird from the Americas, the suboscine Pitangus sulphuratus, in order to achieve a characteristic timbre of some of its vocalizations. By measuring syringeal muscle activity, air sac pressure, and sound as the bird sings, we are able to show that the birds of this species manage to lock the frequency difference between two sound sources. This provides a precise control of sound amplitude modulations, which gives rise to a distinct timbral property.
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