VOCAL REPERTOIRE OF CHIPMUNKS (GENUS-EUTAMIAS) IN CALIFORNIA

A study of the vocalizations of chipmunks was conducted in the field and laboratory, utilizing sonagrams made from tape recordings, and observational data. Most observations were made on Eutamias townsendii, but interspecific variation in alarm calls was studied in all 10 California [USA] species of Eutamias [E. alpinus, E. minimus, E. amoenus, E. panamintinus, E. umbrinus, E. speciosus, E. quadrimaculatus, E. merriami, E. sonomae]. The vocal repertoire of Eutamias includes several alarm calls: the chip, chuck, chippering, and in some species also the trill, and in other the whistle. Other calls include the agonistic chatter, courtship chatter, growl and squeal. The chip is the most common call. There is consistent interspecific variation in structure and temporal arrangement of chips. Most of this variation correlated with body size.