Hi folks,

Just got the October 1996 (Vol 113 No 4) issue of The Auk, the quarterly =
journal of the American Ornithologists' Union. Here are the contents. =
Enjoy. There's some neat stuff in this one..

Jon. Anderson=20
Olympia, Washington
festuca at olywa.net


Consequences of an alien shrub on the plumage coloration and ecology of =
Cedar Waxwings. Mark C Witmer. pp 735-743. Orange, instead of the =
normal yellow, tail bands in waxwings is the result of feeding on fruits =
of introduced Eurasian honeysuckles (Lonicera morrowii and L. tatarica), =
a food with high rhodoxanthin content, when birds are in molt. Eurasian =
honeysuckles are widely established outside of cultivation in the NE =
United States. Ecological interactions between waxwings and these =
honeysuckles underscores the unanticipated consequences that exotics can =
have on native organisms. The extent to which introduced honeysuckles =
may influence the ecology and behavior of waxwings remains to be =
determined.

Mitochondrial DNA lineages in composite flocks of migratory and =
wintering Dunlins (Calidris alpina). Paul W Wenink and Allan J Baker. pp =
744-576. Previously identified 5 phylogentic groups of Dunlin on =
breeding grounds (Alaska, E Siberia, C Siberia, =
Europe/Iceland/Greenland, and C Canada); Samples of nonbreeding birds =
from both sides of the Pacific reveal a mixture of two lineages that =
breed separately in E Siberia and Alaska. This indicates that the Bering =
Strait does not represent a biogeographical barrier to Dunlin migration. =
Dunlin wintering in E Asia most likely originated from the discrete =
breeding population in Alaska. Birds wintering in Europe & W Asia reveal =
mixture of mtDNA lineages confined to European & C Siberian breeding =
grounds. Includes data from birds collected in Washington state.

Incidence and origins of supernumeraries at Bushtit (Psaltriparus =
minimus) nests. Sarah A Sloane. pp 757-770. Study from Cave Creek, =
Chiricahua Mtns, Ariz; 37% of nests had 1-4 'helpers', most of which =
were adult males. Most supernumeraries were males that had not acquired =
a mate, or were failed breeders of either sex. Juveniles were observed =
in supernumerary capacity only only rarely.

Acoustical features of song categories of the Adelaide's Warbler =
(Dendroica adelaidae). Cynthia A Staicer. pp 771-783. This warbler is =
endemic to four Caribbean islands; comparison of song categories from =
Cabo Rojo NWR, Puerto Rico.

Evolutionary relationships among extant albatrosses (Procellariiformes: =
Diomedeidae) established from complete cytochrome-B gene sequences. Gary =
B Nunn, John Cooper, Pierre Jouventin, Chris J R Robertson and Graham G =
Robertson. pp 784-801. Identified four monophyletic groups of the 14 =
species of albatrosses; resurrection of two genera (historically used in =
taxonomy) results in total of four genera: Phoebastria, Diomedea, =
Phoebetria, and Thlassarche. "Our" albatrosses are affected - =
(Phoebastria includes P. nigripes - Black-footed, P. immutabilis - =
Laysan, and P. albatrus - Short-tailed; Diomedea includes D. exulans - =
Wandering; Phoebetria includes P. palpebrata - Light-mantled; =
Thalassarche includes all the rest, T. cauta - Shy, T. melanoptris - =
Black-browed). The others are from out of 'our' area.

Influence of the trailing-edge notch on flight performance of =
Galliformes. Sergei V Drovetski. pp 802-810. Pheasants, quail and =
turkeys have wide wings and deep notches - all use flight to escape =
predators; Grouse with dark flight muscles have long, narrow wings with =
small trailing-edge notches - fly relatively long distances from one =
foraging site to another; Grouse with light-colored flight muscles have =
short, broad wings with large trailing-edge notches and mostly fly from =
ground to canopy or from branch to branch to reach their food. The =
trailing edge notch increases performance in vertical and slow flight =
but reduces efficiency in level flight.

Systematics of grouse and ptarmigan determined by nucleotide sequences =
of the mitochondrial cytochrome-B gene. Darrell L Ellsworth, Rodney L =
Honeycutt and Nova J Silvy. pp 811-822. Their data indicated an early =
divergence of Bonasa species; grouped Dendragapus obscurus (Blue Grouse) =
with Tympanuchus (and not with D. canadensis, the Spruce Grouse) and =
supported an association of D. obscurus and Tympanuchus with Lagopus =
(Ptarmagin) and Tetrao (Capercaillies); and suggested that tetraonines =
underwent a period of rapid diversification in N America.

First-time observer effects in the North American Breeding Bird Survey. =
William L Kendall, Bruce G Peterjohn and John R Sauer. pp 823-829. =
Observers tend to count more individuals and species in subsequent years =
than during their initial year of conducting the survey. Given the =
magnitude of first-time effects, coordinators should improve training of =
observers prior to their first survey for the BBS.=20

Allocation of growth in food-stressed Atlantic Puffin chicks. Hilde =
Stol Oyan and Tycho Anker-Nilssen. pp 830-841. Study conducted on =
Hernyken, in Rost archipelago in Norway; When food intake of chick is =
reduced, growth rates were depressed; head and wing parts grew =
preferentially relative to other characters, and onset of growth was =
delayed in the primaries.

Repeated evolution of sexual color dimorphism in passerine birds. Trevor =
Price and Geoffrey L Birch. pp 842-848. Sexual dimorphism and =
monomorphism have evolved repeatedly one from the other.=20

Plumage coloration and conspicuousness in birds: Experiments with the =
Pied Flycatcher. Svein Dale and Tore Slagsvold. pp 849-857. Study from =
Oslo; caged birds were presented to wild territorial males and results =
were recorded: "..a bright and contrasting coloration makes birds more =
conspicuous to conspecifics."

Subadult plumage in the House Finch and tests of models for the =
evolution of delayed plumage maturation. Geoffrey E Hill. pp 858-874. In =
most populations (including C.m. frontalis, which extends through W =
Oregon, Washington and B.C.), males acquire definitive basic plumage in =
1st prebasic molt. In C.m. griscomi (S Mexico), C.m. amplus (Guadalupe =
Island) and Great Basin populations of C.m. frontalis (which extend from =
Nevada, through E Oregon and Washington into SE B.C.), however, males do =
not acquire definitive plumage until the completion of their second =
prebasic molt, spending their first potential breeding season in a =
female-like plumage.

Habitat selection by American Redstarts along a successional gradient in =
northern hardwoods forest: Evaluation of habitat quality. Peter D Hunt. =
pp 875-888. In White Mtns of New Hampshire; early successional forests =
supported higher densities and greater percentage of older males than =
did mature stands. Early successional stands are more suitable for =
Redstarts than are older forests, perhaps due to higher prey =
availability and/or reduced nest predation.

Geographic variation in migratory behavior of Greater White-fronted =
Geese (Anser albifrons). Craig R Ely and John Y Takekawa. pp 889-901. =
Study of migration and winter distribution of birds radio-tagged on =
Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD) and Bristol Bay lowlands (BBL). Major autumn =
staging site was Klamath Basin on Oregon/California border; geese from =
BBL arrived 30 days earlier than YKD, and departed before most YKD geese =
had arrived. 90% of BBL geese used Klamath Basin, whereas 30% of YKD =
geese bypassed the Basin and flew directly to wintering grounds in =
California's Central Valley. Nearly all BBL geese flew directly from =
Klamath Basin to Mexico, bypassing the Central Valley! 90% of BBL geese =
wintered in Mexico (esp. Laguna Babicora, Chihuahua); Sacramento Valley =
was main wintering area for YKD birds. BBL geese migrated from Mexico =
into Sacramento-San Joaquin area by last week of January. 45% of BBL =
birds used Klamath Basin in spring, but many birds staged in E Oregon =
and W Idaho. Geese from YKD staged almost entirely in Klamath Basin in =
spring before flying to staging areas in Alaska.

Nestling sex-ratio variation in Western Bluebirds. Walter D Koenig and =
Janis L Dickinson. pp 902-910. Study from Hastings Reservation, 40km =
inland from Monterey, Calif; Based on 2,187 nestlings from 549 broods, =
proportion of males was 51.9 - not significantly different from 50%. =
Sex-ratio biases in birds are uncommon.

Implications of vagrant southeastern vireos and warblers in California. =
Michael A Patten and Curtis A Marantz. pp 911-923. Anomalous weather =
conditions probably accounted for the magnitude of the 1992 influx of SE =
U.S. warblers and vireos; however, a trend in sightings is likely =
explained by range expansions into the western U.S. and/or dramatic =
population increases in the SE U.S. Intriguing!

In Memoriam: Burt L Monroe, Jr., 1930-1994.=20
In Memoriam: Harvey I Fisher, 1916-1994.
In Memoriam: William H Drury, 1921-1992.
In Memoriam: Walter R Spofford, 1908-1995.
In Memoriam: William H Marshall, 1912-1996.

Short Communications and Commentaries:

Play Activity in Young Montagu's Harriers (Circus pygargus). Massimo =
Pandolfi. pp 935-938. Monitored 23 nesting pairs in badlands and fields =
near Urbino, Italy. Play behavior is important in socialization, is tied =
to learning of hunting, food grasping, permits motor training, and =
provides practice for eventual serious competition.

Allocation of Limited Reserves to a Clutch: A Model Explaining the Lack =
of a Relationship Between Clutch Size and Egg Size. Paul L Flint, James =
B Grand and James S Sedinger. pp 939-942. Failure to detect a negative =
correlation between clutch size and egg size is not necessarily evidence =
against regulation of clutch size by nutrient reserves.

Notes on the Behavior of the Masked Saltator in Southern Ecuador. Joseph =
A Tobias and Robert S R Williams. pp 942-944. Survey of birds on the =
Cordillera de Sabanilla, Amaluza, Loja Province; Contrary to assumptions =
that it is a shy inhabitant of impenetrable undergrowth, it has been =
recorded joining large mixed-species flocks in the canopy; its =
association with Chusquea bamboo in Peru is not apparent in Colombia or =
Ecuador. The species, unlike most cloud-forest passerines, undertakes =
non-seasonal movements, a behavior possibly derived from a dependence on =
the cone crop of podocarps. Podocarpus oleifolius is rapidly =
disappearing from many areas because of its timber value; Stringent =
protection of several areas in Ecuador and Colombia should be strongly =
supported.

Habitat Barriers to Movement of Understory Birds in Fragmented =
South-Temperate Rainforest. Kathryn E Sieving, Mary F Willson and Tony L =
De Santo. pp 944-949. Five understory species (4 rhinocryptids and 1 =
furnariid) endemic to rainforest of S Chile were studied on Isla Grande =
de Chiloe'. Open pasture is a "hard" barrier to territorial =
individuals, whereas scattered cover is a "soft" barrier.

Time of Departure by Summer Tanagers (Piranga rubra) from a Stopover =
Site Following Spring Trans-Gulf Migration. Frank R Moore and David A =
Aborn. pp 949-952. Observations from Horn Island, a barrier island 20km =
off Mississippi Gulf coast; tanagers stopping on island re-initiated =
migration at least 2-3 hours after sunset, and possibly much later in =
the night - which is inconsistent with expected pattern of departure =
shortly after sunset.

Cavity Nesting by Great Kiskadees (Pitangus sulphuratus): Adaptation or =
Expression of Ancestral Behavior? Celso Lago-Paiva. pp 953-955. =
Kiskadees usually build large globular or domed nests; author reports on =
3 kiskadee nests in cavities in wall of Imaculada Conceicao Church in =
Piracicaba, SE Brazil. Discussion of exposed vs concealed nest location =
and nest structure (cup-shaped vs domed) of Tyrannus relatives; suggests =
that cavity nesting is primitive trait in certain branches of =
Tyrannidae.

Interbreeding of a Tricolored Heron and a Snowy Egret in South Dakota. =
William A Meeks, David E Naugle, Rex R Johnson and Kenneth F Higgins. pp =
955-957. Observation from a mixed-species heronry in Brown County, South =
Dakota in June and July, 1995. Interbreeding is rare; occurs when =
interspecific morphological, ecological or behavioral isolating =
mechanisms break down.=20

Skewed Sex Ratios in Cooper's Hawk Offspring. Robert N Rosenfeld, John =
Bielefeldt and Susan M Vos. pp 957-960. 16-year study of 372 nests in =
Wisconsin; Males were more numerous (55%) at conception, at the nestling =
stage (54%), and at fledging (60%). Skewed sex ratios apparently =
originate at fertilization, with little or no differential mortality =
between conception and fledging. Long-term (at least 10 years) =
necessary to statistically confirm skewed sex ratios in nestlings.

Social Strategy and Cover in Savannah Sparrows. Bryan D Watts. pp =
960-963. Field work in fields of horseweed (Erigeron canadensis) near =
Athens, Georgia; sparrows were twice as likely to be solitary on weedy =
plots than open ones; large flocks more common on open plots than weedy =
ones.

Begging as competition for food in Yellow-headed Blackbirds. Karen =
Price. pp 963-967. Study of begging and provisioning from Creston Valley =
Wildlife Mgmt Area, B.C.; added single nestlings to natural broods. =
Experimental nestlings vocalized longer during parental visits when a =
fourth chick was present, but did not beg for longer between visits. =
Parental provisioning rate did not increase to broods of four; hence, =
number of feeds per chick tended to decrease and chick may have been =
hungrier with an extra nest mate.

Terminology in Molt and Wing Feathers: Use of Descendant, Ascendant, and =
Lesser Coverts. Raffael Winkler and Lukas Jenni. pp 968-969. Since the =
turn of the century, the convention has been to number the primaries =
descendantly, from inside to outside. Authors plead for correct usage: =
Note that Pyle et al. incorrectly stated "primaries are numbered =
ascendantly (innermost to outermost) and secondaries descendantly =
(outermost to innermost)," which obviously contradicts common =
definitions. Also note that smallest wing coverts of passerines, which =
are precicely called "marginal coverts" are called "lesser coverts" in =
some publications; it is characteristic of passerines that the lesser =
covers are absent or reduced to downy feathers - the term 'lesser =
coverts' apparently is receiving increased usage in contemporary papers.

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