Oxygen Consumption during Singing by Male Carolina Wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus)

Abstract

A technique was developed to measure oxygen consumption during singing in captive male Carolina Wrens (Thryothorus Ludovicianus). Oxygen consumption during singing varied between individuals, which may have been a result of variation in singing rates. The average basal rate of metabolism was estimated to be 3.31 cm3 O2·g−1·h−1 from standard metabolism measurements made at night. Oxygen consumption during singing ranged from 9.07 to 28.69 cm3 O2·g−1·h−1. Captive study animals used singing rates similar to wild wrens. A comparison between metabolism during singing and resting showed that the cost of singing in male Carolina Wrens is higher than the costs of other common activities of passerines except flight.