Preliminary data about geographic variation of the Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) song in Ukraine. - A.V. Grishchenko, E.D. Yablonovska-Grishchenko. - Berkut. 22 (2) 2013. - P. 161-164.
Since 2002 to 2013, we have recorded songs of 231 Chiffchaffs in 65 localities all over Ukraine except the Crimea, Danube delta and south part of the Left-bank of Dnieper Area in the Steppe zone. Analysis of geographic variation of Chiffchaff song was carried out for the territorial complexes of elements using semi-quantitative method of song analysis. The data from points were grouped by sectors in compliance with zoogeographic zoning of Ukraine (Shcherbak, 1988) because the comparison of element complexes from separate points is impossible in case of small number of data for one point. The description of dialects was carried out on these sectors. In total, 45 elements were registered for the study area. We describe some levels of distribution of elements – universal, widespread, and dialect, and some lower categories. There are six universal elements, nine widespread ones, and ten elements of a dialect range. Two dialects were found in study area – on left and right banks of Dnieper. The third Carpathians dialect may be described with the larger number of data. These are only preliminary results, since the “sectoral” method allows describe dialects roughly, the further researches are necessary for detailed elaboration. Distribution of the Chiffchaff dialects is similar with distribution of Chaffinch dialects. [English].
Key words: continuous singing, song element, spatial distribution, song dialect, diversity.
Address: E.D. Yablonovska-Grishchenko, Kaniv Nature Reserve, Kaniv, 19000, Ukraine; e-mail: aetos@narod.ru.