EVOLUTION OF PLUMAGE COLOR IN MALE PIED FLYCATCHERS (<i>FICEDULA HYPOLEUCA</i>): EVIDENCE FOR FEMALE MIMICRY

Slagsvold, Tore; Sætre, Glenn‐Peter

doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.1991.tb04359.x

Cited by 32 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…By maintaining low testosterone levels, or reducing testosterone levels, clean males may make themselves less threatening to the stained males. Subordinate male birds sometimes mimic female plumage or reduce badge size to be less threatening to territory-holding males (Rohwer et al, 1980;Slagsvold and Saetre, 1991). Similarly, unflanged male orangutans are tolerated by the flanged males (Utami Atmoko and van Hooff, 2004).…”

Section: Alternative Mating Tacticsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Bimorphism in Male Verreaux’s Sifaka in the Kirindy Forest of Madagascar

Lewis

Schaik

2007

Int J Primatol

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Male primates in species with pronounced secondary sexual adornments can exhibit reversible or irreversible bimorphism, i.e., striking variation in the degree to which males express the adornments. Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi) use scent marking as a form of communication and exhibit sex differences in scent glands. Some males exhibit a pronounced brown staining around their sternal gland, whereas others do not. We studied morphological and behavioral characteristics of males in 6 social groups in Kirindy Forest, Madagascar, from November 2000 to March 2002 to evaluate the hypotheses that the bimorphism in male sifaka chest status represents alternative mating tactics and is a badge of status. Males are clearly divided into 2 categories: clean and stained chests, with rare, but informative, intermediate males. The chest staining probably results from the males scent marking with their sternal glands, because stained-chested males scent marked significantly more often than clean-chested males. Though sample sizes are small, chest status did not appear to depend on body size. Chest status is reversible and related to dominance rank. In each group, only 1 male, the dominant, was stained-chested, whereas all other (subordinate) males were clean-chested. These findings suggest that stained chests are visual and olfactory signals of dominance rank and that clean chests signal lack of competitive intent. Thus, 159 0164-0291/07/0200-0159/0 C 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 160 Lewis and van Schaik this bimorphism may reflect alternative mating tactics used by males to maximize their reproductive success based upon their social environment.

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Section: Alternative Mating Tacticsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Bimorphism in Male Verreaux’s Sifaka in the Kirindy Forest of Madagascar

Lewis

Schaik

2007

Int J Primatol

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“…Another species in which the female‐mimicry hypothesis may be applicable is the pied flycatcher ( Ficedula hypoleuca ) as several studies of this species have shown that adult males have difficulty distinguishing between females and female‐like males (Slagsvold & Saetre, 1991; Saetre & Slagsvold, 1992, 1996; Saetre, 1993). Among the many studies of pied flycatchers (see Huhta & Alatalo, 1993), however, subadult males are not always treated like females.…”

Section: Hypothesized Benefits Of Subadult Plumagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Delayed plumage maturation and delayed reproductive investment in birds

Hawkins¹,

2011

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Delayed plumage maturation is the delayed acquisition of a definitive colour and pattern of plumage until after the first potential breeding period in birds. Here we provide a comprehensive overview of the numerous studies of delayed plumage maturation and a revised theoretical framework for understanding the function of delayed plumage maturation in all birds. We first distinguish between hypotheses that delayed plumage maturation is attributable to a moult constraint with no adaptive function and hypotheses that propose that delayed plumage maturation is a component of an adaptive life-history strategy associated with delayed reproductive investment. We then recognize three potential benefits of delayed plumage maturation: crypsis, mimicry and status signaling. Evidence suggests that delayed plumage maturation is not a consequence of developmental constraints and instead represents a strategy to maximize reproductive success in circumstances where young adults cannot effectively compete with older adults for limited resources, particularly breeding opportunities. A multi-factorial explanation that takes into account lifespan and the degree of competition for limited breeding resources and that combines the benefits of an inconspicuous appearance with the benefits of honest signaling of reduced competitiveness provides a general explanation for the function of delayed plumage maturation in most bird species. Delayed plumage maturation should be viewed as a component of alternative reproductive strategies that can include delay in both plumage and sexual development. Such strategies are frequently facultative, with individuals breeding prior to the acquisition of definitive plumages when conditions are favourable. Presumably, the benefits of delayed plumage maturation ultimately enhance lifetime reproductive success, and studying delayed plumage maturation within the context of lifetime reproductive success should be a goal of future studies.

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“…) and a white forehead patch (Potti & Montalvo ; Galván & Moreno ), in contrast to duller brown and white females. Males with more black feathers on the head, wings and back are more attractive to females in some populations (Slagsvold & Saetre ; Saetre et al. ; Galván & Moreno ), while larger forehead patches also seem to be preferred by females (Potti & Montalvo ; Dale et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extra-Pair Paternity Declines with Female Age and Wing Length in the Pied Flycatcher

et al. 2015

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Despite many studies of how male characteristics affect paternity in predominantly monogamous birds, relatively little attention has been given to the traits of females that may influence extra‐pair paternity (EPP). However, the occurrence of EPP may be the result of behavioural interactions in which both male and female traits are important for determining the outcome. If EPP is driven mainly by female choice of extra‐pair sires, older, more experienced or larger females would be better able to evade mate guarding tactics and more capable of selecting extra‐pair mates and resisting unwanted suitors. This would be especially noticeable in females paired with unattractive mates. On the other hand, if EPP is driven mainly by male pursuit, we should expect that young, inexperienced or small females would be more exposed to coercive male approaches independently of social mate traits. In a study of an Iberian population of the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca, we found that EPP affected 38% of the broods and 17% of the nestlings. These values are relatively high, allowing a relatively large number of affected within‐pair mates to be included. We found that EPP is related to both female and male traits although not to any interaction between male and female traits. EPP was higher at nests tended by both younger and short‐winged females and by browner males. Older females may be more experienced and dominant while long‐winged females may be faster fliers, these traits enabling them to avoid extra‐pair copulations, while brown males are less aggressive towards male intruders. In our study population, EPP appears to be caused by male pursuit, which in some cases may overwhelm female attempts to avoid extra‐pair copulations and their social partner's ability to prevent them.

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EVOLUTION OF PLUMAGE COLOR IN MALE PIED FLYCATCHERS (FICEDULA HYPOLEUCA): EVIDENCE FOR FEMALE MIMICRY

Cited by 32 publications

References 43 publications

Bimorphism in Male Verreaux’s Sifaka in the Kirindy Forest of Madagascar

Bimorphism in Male Verreaux’s Sifaka in the Kirindy Forest of Madagascar

Delayed plumage maturation and delayed reproductive investment in birds

Extra-Pair Paternity Declines with Female Age and Wing Length in the Pied Flycatcher

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