Sementili-Cardoso, Guilherme [UNESP]Marcelino, Raphael Sabongi Lúcio [UNESP]Donatelli, Reginaldo José [UNESP]2022-04-292022-04-292019-01-01Oecologia Australis, v. 23, n. 3, p. 664-669, 2019.2177-6199http://hdl.handle.net/11449/228743Vocal mimicry is the ability of some bird species to copy heterospecific vocalizations in order to establish deceptive or non-deceptive interactions between an emitter and a receiver. This kind of vocal behavior is well documented in several species of New World Blackbirds (Icteridae family), but not in Scarlet-headed Blackbird (Amblyramphus holosericeus). Here we report the first event of vocal mimicry of this species, where a single individual imitated the vocal signals of Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani; Cuculiformes, Cuculidae). We argue that such behavior could have a deceptive role, increasing the predation avoidance and foraging efficiency of A. holosericeus by luring heterospecific individuals to form a mixed-flock.664-669engBioacousticsDilution effectNeotropical birdsVocal imitationWetlandsArtigo10.4257/oeco.2019.2303.232-s2.0-85075070552