Unmasking complex migration syndromes and seasonal plumage colouration of the White‐naped Xenopsaris ( Xenopsaris albinucha )

Ibis ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Dantas Lima ◽  
Alexander Charles Lees
Keyword(s):  
Plumage Colouration

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 Plumage colouration in gulls responds to their non‐breeding climatic niche

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (10) ◽  
pp. 1704-1715
Author(s):  
Paul Dufour ◽  
Julia Guerra Carande ◽  
Julien Renaud ◽  
Julien P. Renoult ◽  
Sébastien Lavergne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climatic Niche ◽  
Plumage Colouration

scholarly journals Uropygial gland and bib colouration in the house sparrow

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregorio Moreno-Rueda
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Uropygial Gland ◽  
Short Term ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Gland Size ◽  
Plumage Colouration ◽  
Preen Oil ◽  
Male House

Birds frequently signal different qualities by plumage colouration, mainly during mating. However, plumage colouration is determined during the moult, and therefore it would indicate the quality of individual birds during the moult, not its current quality. Recent studies, however, suggest that birds could modify plumage colouration by using cosmetic preen oil. In this study, I show that bib colouration is related to uropygial gland size and body condition in male house sparrows (Passer domesticus). Moreover, I conducted an experiment in which a group of sparrows were inoculated with an antigen, mimicking an illness. In control birds, short-term changes in bib colouration were related to both body condition and change in uropygial gland size. Therefore, birds that spent more preen oil (thus, reducing uropygial gland size), showed a greater colouration change. However, bib colouration did not change with use of preen oil in experimental birds inoculated with the antigen. That is, the simulated illness cancelled the effect of preen oil on bib colouration. Given that the experiment did not affect preen oil production, this finding suggests that the immune challenge provoked a change in the composition of preen oil, affecting its cosmetic properties. In short, the results of this study suggest that (1) male house sparrows produce cosmetic preen oil that alters the colouration of their bibs; (2) the more effort in preening, the more change in bib colouration; and (3) in this way, bib colouration has the potential to signal current health status, since less healthy birds showed less capacity to change bib colouration.

scholarly journals Carotenoid-based plumage colouration is associated with blood parasite richness and stress protein levels in blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus)

Oecologia ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 162 (4) ◽  
pp. 825-835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara del Cerro ◽  
Santiago Merino ◽  
Josué Martínez-de la Puente ◽  
Elisa Lobato ◽  
Rafael Ruiz-de-Castañeda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Protein ◽  
Blood Parasite ◽  
Cyanistes Caeruleus ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Plumage Colouration ◽  
Parasite Richness ◽  
Blue Tits

Strong effects of various incidence and observation angles on spectrometric assessment of plumage colouration in birds

2007 ◽  
Vol 61 (9) ◽  
pp. 1499-1506 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. I. C. O. Santos ◽  
L. De Neve ◽  
J. T. Lumeij ◽  
M. I. Förschler
Keyword(s):  
Plumage Colouration

Flock formation and the role of plumage colouration in Ardeidae

2005 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 683-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Clay Green ◽  
Paul L Leberg
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Flock Size ◽  
Wading Birds ◽  
Plumage Colouration ◽  
Wading Bird ◽  
White Plumage ◽  
Fourth Experiment ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Colour Morphs ◽  
Egretta Rufescens

It has been hypothesized that white plumage facilitates flock formation in Ardeidae. We conducted four experiments using decoys to test factors involved in attracting wading birds to a specific pond. The first three experiments tested the effects of plumage colouration, flock size, and species-specific decoys on flock formation. The fourth experiment examined intraspecific differences in flock choice between the two colour morphs of the reddish egret, Egretta rufescens (Gmelin, 1789). Wading birds landed at flocks of decoys more often than single or no decoys (P < 0.001) but exhibited no overall attraction to white plumage (P > 0.05). White-plumaged species were attracted to white decoys (P < 0.001) and dark-plumaged species were attracted to dark decoys (P < 0.001). Snowy egrets (E. thula (Molina, 1782)), great egrets (Ardea alba L., 1758), and little blue herons (E. caerulea (L., 1758)) landed more often at ponds that contained decoys resembling conspecifics. At the intraspecific level, all observed reddish egrets selected flocks with like-plumaged decoys. Our results suggest that plumage colouration is an attractant for species with similar plumage, but white plumage is not an attractant for all wading bird species. White plumage may facilitate flock formation in certain species but does not serve as a universal attractant for wading birds of varying plumage colouration and size.

Dietary antioxidants, lipid peroxidation and plumage colouration in nestling blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus

2010 ◽  
Vol 97 (10) ◽  
pp. 903-913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen D. Larcombe ◽  
William Mullen ◽  
Lucille Alexander ◽  
Kathryn E. Arnold
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Peroxidation ◽  
Dietary Antioxidants ◽  
Cyanistes Caeruleus ◽  
Plumage Colouration ◽  
Blue Tits

Male Activity and Female Mate Acceptance in the Mallard (Anas Platyrhynchos)

Behaviour ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 79 (2-4) ◽  
pp. 313-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Bossema ◽  
J.P. Kruijt
Keyword(s):  
Mate Selection ◽  
Pair Formation ◽  
Male Courtship ◽  
Colour Type ◽  
Female Mate ◽  
Plumage Colouration ◽  
Adult Females ◽  
Male Plumage ◽  
Male Activity ◽  
Almost All

AbstractThis paper examines pair formation in wild and domesticated white mallard females in relation to differences in male courtship pressure. By rearing males of both strains with wild or white females, adult females of each strain could be confronted with courting males of the own or opposite strain. As almost all females paired with males courting them most intensively, regardless the colour type of the males, it is concluded that directed male activity is a more important factor for female mate acceptance than male plumage colouration. The implications of this finding for the interpretation of previous work on factors involved in mate selection by mallard females (SCHUTZ, 1965; KLINT, 1973, 1975, 1978 and 1980) are discussed.

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