Female choice for complex song in the European starling: a field experiment |
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Authors: | D J Mountjoy Robert E Lemon |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Avenue Docteur Penfield, Quebec, Canada, H3A 1B1, CA |
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Abstract: | Male European starlings Sturnus vulgaris sing long complex songs that appear to be important in the courtship of females but which also influence competitive interactions
between males. We tested the hypothesis that females choose mates on the basis of the complexity of their songs, rather than
on the quality of the territories the males defended. In order to determine whether certain territories were preferred over
others, the first set of birds to settle in the experimental nest-boxes was removed and a second set allowed to settle. Consistent
preferences for certain nest-boxes were indicated by correlations between the settlement patterns of the first and second
sets of birds. However, males with the most complex song did not necessarily occupy the most preferred nest sites. Males with
more complex song acquired mates faster. This relationship remained significant when nest-site preference was statistically
controlled, indicating that female starlings chose males with complex song rather than those that defended preferred nest
sites. A number of morphological variables were also found to be uncorrelated with female choice. Song complexity in European
starlings increases with age, and the evolution of song complexity in this species is consistent with an age-indicator model
of sexual selection. Males with larger repertoires were also in better condition, indicating that females obtain high-quality
mates by choosing on the basis of male song.
Received: 29 April 1995/Accepted after revision: 9 September 1995 |
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Keywords: | Sturnus vulgaris Territory quality Song repertoires Sexual selection Indicator models |
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