
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kentish, Barry 
A1  - Harvey, Jack 
A1  - Roberts, Lyn 
A1  - Ross, Jason 
T1  - Multivariate statistical analysis of songs of the male Common Blackbird (<emph type="2">Turdus merula</emph>): an example from western Victoria, Australia
JF  - Emu
JO  - EMU
Y1  - 2001
VL  - 101
IS  - 4
SP  - 335
EP  - 340
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/MU00038 
N2  - Variation in the song of the male Common Blackbird was investigated within and between two locations in western Victoria. Each of 400 phrases (100 phrases per male) was characterised by 61 measurements relating to 13 aspects of each phrase. Principal component and stepwise discriminant analyses were undertaken on these measurements. Classification of blackbird song for location and individuality was based on timing within the phrase of the loudest elements. Evidence was found for within-phrase variability, with the greatest variation in the middle of the phrase. Within- and between-site comparison found that blackbird song exhibited both individual and site-specific characteristics consistent with earlier suggestions of phrase sharing within local populations. The study demonstrated that an objective statistical approach to song analysis was able to disciminate between individual birds from different locations. 
ER  -

