Sounds

Development

Needs study.

Vocal Array

Two main vocalizations associated with display flights: Rhythmically Repeated Calls (RRCs) (Fig. 3A) and songs; RRCs 1 element; fundamental frequency begins at 1–1.2 kHz, consists of series of brief pulses. Song consists of series of pulsed trills emitted at 2–3 kHz; generally delivered by males (Fig. 3B), infrequently by females (Fig. 3C). Species lacks Chattering Call of many other shorebird species (Miller 1983). Song described as beginning with an accented drürr-drürr, followed by a falling-off, humming trill, song flight ended with a subsiding tri-ririri (Bergmann and Helb 1982). Cramp and Simmons (1983) describe song as combination of Courting-trills (froglike wheezes- wrrrrrah wrrrrrah wrrrrrah or gwar) and Long-trills (high, extended, twittering whinny- chrri-i-i-i-i-i-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri). When flushed, flying, or departing for migration, birds often give a distinctive krree call (NDW); chrri, cheerp, treer, or treep (Cramp and Simmons 1983). Parents distracting at nest give a high-pitched squeal or a strident rüt-rit-rü call (Bergmann and Helb 1982); dear-dear-dear (Cramp and Simmons 1983). Adults give a loud kluk-kluk or kok-kok to hatching chicks (Cramp and Simmons 1983). After hatching, parents (either male or both sexes) lead chicks with a low-intensity purr call (Baker 1982). Calls of young described as thin, high siiu, rising suiii, and buzzy, flat srii (Cramp and Simmons 1983).

Phenology

Song generally heard only on the breeding grounds, although migrating birds infrequently heard trilling while still on wintering grounds (NDW). Calls heard throughout year.

Daily Pattern Of Vocalization

Call rates of foraging Dunlin during fall migration lower at night than in day (Mouritsen 1992). Call rates of wintering Dunlin often peak just prior to dawn and at dusk (NDW).

Places Of Vocalization

Song delivered both on ground and in air (Bergmann and Helb 1982).

Repertoire And Delivery Of Songs

Needs study.

Social Contact And Presumed Function Of Vocalizations

Individual variation in chick call may aid in parent recognition (Baker 1982), although data not conclusive. Distraction calls given when eggs or chicks threatened; male’s generally more intense than female’s (Holmes 1966b). Adults readily respond to alarm calls of heterospecifics on wintering (Leger and Nelson 1982) and breeding (REG) grounds.

Tight “predator flocks” make a distinct rushing noise when banking and turning, presumably caused by rushing air vibrating stiff flight feathers.