Structure and Use of Song in the Yellow‐headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)

and Summary Analysis of yellow-headed blackbird songs indicated that accenting and buzzing songs differed in note structure, energy distribution, and loudness. Buzzing songs showed a shift in energy distribution as a result of propagation through marsh habitat whereas accenting songs did not. Results suggest that accenting songs should propagate further in marsh habitat than buzzing songs. Two experiments, done to test whether song types differed in functional distance, showed that the presence of a male song of either type, or a male or female model on their territories increased use of buzzing songs by males. In the absence of auditory or visual stimulation, males used mainly accenting songs. Results supported the hypothesis that buzzing songs are used primarily for short-range interactions whereas accenting songs are used primarily for long-range general advertising.