Sharp-tailed Sandpipers in Breeding Plumage

1949 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy Wheeler
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Plumage

Carotenoid-based plumage colouration in red bishops (Euplectes orix) — signalling presence rather than quality?

Behaviour ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 148 (11-13) ◽  
pp. 1372-1392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice U. Edler ◽  
Thomas W.P. Friedl
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Parasite Load ◽  
Blood Parasite ◽  
Male Reproductive Success ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Male Quality ◽  
Plumage Colouration ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Breeding Plumage

AbstractThe role of bright plumage colouration for female choice has been the focus of research in sexual selection for many years, with several studies showing that females prefer the most elaborately ornamented males, which are often also the highest quality individuals. Here, we analysed the associations between reproductive performance and plumage, body condition and blood parasite load in the red bishop (Euplectes orix), a sexually dimorphic and polygynous weaverbird species, where males in a carotenoid-based orange-to-red breeding plumage defend territories and build many nests to which they try to attract females. Male reproductive success in terms of number of nests accepted was mainly determined by the number of nests built, but was also positively related to blood parasite load, while we found no influence of plumage characteristics. Together with previously obtained data, our results indicate that plumage characteristics in the red bishop do not affect male reproductive success and are generally not suitable to reliably indicate male quality. We suggest that the primary function of the brilliant orange-scarlet breeding plumage might be presence signalling in terms of increasing conspicuousness of breeding males to females searching for mates.

scholarly journals No evidence for an adaptive role of early molt into breeding plumage in a female fairy wren

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 411-420
Author(s):  
Sergio Nolazco ◽  
Michelle L Hall ◽  
Sjouke A Kingma ◽  
Kaspar Delhey ◽  
Anne Peters
Keyword(s):  
Mating Systems ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Adaptive Function ◽  
Female Ornamentation ◽  
Extrapair Mating ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Breeding Plumage ◽  
Adaptive Role

Abstract The evolution of ornaments as sexually selected signals is well understood in males, but female ornamentation remains understudied. Fairy wrens offer an excellent model system, given their complex social structure and mating systems, and the diversity of female ornamentation. We investigated whether early molt into ornamental breeding plumage plays an adaptive role in females of the monogamous purple-crowned fairy wren Malurus coronatus, the only fairy wren known to have female seasonal plumage. Using 6 years of monitoring, we found that the timing of female molt was similar to males, but there was no evidence for assortative mating. Like males (previous study), older and dominant individuals acquired their breeding plumage earlier; however, in contrast to males, early molt did not seem to be costly since unfavorable environmental conditions or previous reproductive effort did not delay molt. Early female molt was not associated with any indicator of reproductive quality nor did it attract additional offspring care by their partners. We also found no association between early molt and the likelihood of acquiring a dominant (breeding) position or with the presence or proximity to same-sex rivals. Our study results, which are similar to previous findings in conspecific males, suggest that directional selection for early molt might be relaxed in this species, in contrast to other genetically polygamous fairy wrens in which early molt predicts extrapair mating success in males. However, the finding that molt timing is status dependent raises the possibility that other attributes of the ornament may fulfill an adaptive function in females.

Phenotypic plasticity in breeding plumage signals in both sexes of a migratory bird: responses to breeding conditions

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Moreno ◽  
Alejandro Cantarero ◽  
Mireia Plaza ◽  
Jimena López‐Arrabé
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Migratory Bird ◽  
Breeding Plumage

scholarly journals Blackchested Prinia Prinia flavicans in Breeding Plumage at Satara, Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Roome
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Tape Recording ◽  
Breeding Plumage

On 8 October 1986 a pair of Blackchested Prinia Prinia flavicans in breeding plumage was observed in the camping area of Satara Rest Camp, Kruger National Park. Playing and replaying a tape recording of the call of a Pearlspotted Owl Glaucidium perlatum, in order to see what avian activity would be aroused, the recording attracted Blackeyed Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus, Whitebellied Sunbird Nectarinia talatala and Tawnyflanked Prinia Prinia subflava, in addition to the pair of Blackchested Prinia, all highly excited and in search of the intruding Pearlspotted Owl. The birds homed in on the source of the call and all species were observed from a distance of some 2 m-3 m. Although recorded previously from the Kruger National Park (Newman 1980, Birds of Southern Africa 1: Kruger National Park, Johannesburg: Macmillan) in non-breeding plumage and also referred to by Milstein & Milstein (1981, Koedoe 24: 109-117) as a species which they probably observed near Punda Milia (in winter plumage), the Blackchested Prinia recorded at Satara were most obliging and it was possible to positively identify the presence of this species in the Kruger National Park in its breeding plumage.

Taxonomy, Distribution, and Evolution of Golden Plovers (Pluvialis dominica and Pluvialis fulva)

The Auk ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 607-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter G. Connors
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Assortative Mating ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Secondary Contact ◽  
Migration Routes ◽  
Separate Species ◽  
Winter Range ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Breeding Plumage ◽  
Golden Plover

Abstract A discriminant function analysis of specimen measurements separates 96% of two forms of Lesser Golden Plover in breeding plumage, previously described as subspecies. The forms breed sympatrically in northwest Alaska and are not isolated by habitat, but the incidence of specimens phenotypically intermediate between two forms is no higher there than in areas of allopatry. The absence of a cline of intergrades or of a hybrid zone indicates that the forms are reproductively isolated through assortative mating and are separate species. To explain the process of speciation in these very similar forms, I propose that the evolution of genetically controlled and markedly different migration routes (Pluvialis dominica to South America and Pluvialis fulva to the central and western Pacific and Indian oceans) during Pleistocene glacial isolation may have selected against hybrids during subsequent secondary contact of populations. This would leat to adaptations in behavior and plumage, such as the difference in male undertail coverts reported here, that would produce assortative mating and reproductive isolation in sympatry. Thus, the requirements of migration and winter range drive the process of speciation.

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