Data from: Decoding parrot duets: Complex communication in yellow-naped amazons
Data files
Jan 27, 2026 version files 67.92 KB
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README.md
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Supplement_Data_DRYAD.xlsx
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Abstract
Parrots represent an excellent model in which to study complex vocal communication because they meet the prerequisites of the social complexity hypothesis and, like humans, have lifelong vocal learning. Despite that, the difficulty in acquiring good field data on wild parrot vocalizations has limited such research. Here, we examine the warble duets of the yellow-naped amazon, a critically endangered species, which are used by mated pairs when defending territories. We found that these duets are marked by a large lexicon of 36 call types, with additional variants. The calls also assort non-randomly within the duets and are organized by syntactic rules. In addition, 58% of call types were sex specific, while the remaining call types were used by both sexes and thus appeared to be sex-neutral. Overall, the duets were marked by great variability; despite being structured by syntactic rules, we observed very little overt repetition in entire duets. This research provides important evidence that large repertoires and complex vocal communication are an important part of the natural communication systems of wild parrots.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.rn8pk0prb
Description of the data and file structure
The data (Supplement_Data_DRYAD.xlsx) consist of raw measurements made on all warble duets, made using the program Raven.
NA- Data that could not be measured for various reasons, including too much overlap from other calls, background noise, or otherwise low quality and/or poor signal-to-noise ratio.
- Duet Name- Individual file name for each duet
- Pair- Initials corresponding to each mated pair of yellow-naped amazons
- Note #-Position of the note within the duet sequence
- Call type: Label assigned to the vocalization type
- Sex- Whether the note was given by a male bird, a female bird, or if it was unknown
- Total Call Duration(s)- utilizing the box function in Raven to find the length of a whole call from start to finish.
- Minimum Frequency of dominant band (hz)- detecting the lowest frequency at a specific point in the dominant band using the cursor function.
- Maximum Frequency (hz) of dominant band- detecting the greatest frequency at a specific point in the dominant band using the cursor function.
- Response Time(s)- utilizing the box function in Raven to measure the time from the beginning of one call to the beginning of the previous.
- Aggregate Entropy (bits)- utilizing the box function in Raven to measure the overall disorder in a selected call. The higher the measurement, the greaterthe warble in the call; the lower the measurement, the more tonal the call. Highlight the dominant band only.
- Delta Frequency (hz) of dominant band- Automatic value, difference between max and min frequency of dominant band.
- Yellow-naped amazon calls can consist of different segments, which may be more heavily frequency modulated, which we considered to be noisy, or more tonal (Wright and Dahlin 2007). We scored the calls based on the number and properties of these segments to better differentiate between call types.
- Number of Noisy Segments: Using the aforementioned entropy values to discuss the physical characteristics of a call by determining how many segments in the call are considered noisy.
- Number of Tonal Segments: Using the aforementioned entropy values to discuss the physical characteristics of a call by determining how many segments in the call are considered tonal.