Computational model for vocal tract dynamics in a suboscine bird

Abstract

In a recent work, active use of the vocal tract has been reported for singing oscines. The reconfiguration ofthe vocal tract during song serves to match its resonances to the syringeal fundamental frequency, demonstratinga precise coordination of the two main pieces of the avian vocal system for songbirds characterized bytonal songs. In this work we investigated the Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulfuratus, a suboscine bird whosecalls display a rich harmonic content. Using a recently developed mathematical model for the syrinx and amobile vocal tract, we set up a computational model that provides a plausible reconstruction of the vocal tractmovement using a few spectral features taken from the utterances. Moreover, synthetic calls were generatedusing the articulated vocal tract that accounts for all the acoustical features observed experimentally.