Individual quality explains association between plumage colouration, arrival dates and mate acquisition in yellow warblers (Setophaga petechia)

Abstract

BackgroundIn many bird species colour traits influence social dominance and breeding success. In our study we first evaluated whether the colour of the basic plumage (tail feathers grown at the end of the breeding season), that provides an index of individual quality, influenced winter habitat use by yellow warblers. We then evaluated whether winter habitat use (inferred using δ13C and δ15N signatures of winter grown greater-coverts) influenced alternate plumage colouration, after controlling for individual quality using basic plumage colouration. Finally, we investigated whether basic and alternate plumage colouration influenced arrival dates, mate acquisition, breeding phenology and reproductive success of yellow warblers breeding in southern (Revelstoke, B.C.) and arctic (Inuvik, N.W.T.) Canada.ResultsThe colour (chroma and hue) of tail feathers, grown on the breeding grounds, was not related to subsequent winter habitat use. Greater covert and tail feather colour (chroma and hue) were correlated, suggesting genetics and/or individual quality played a role in pigment deposition. After controlling for individual difference in tail colour, δ13C values did not explain any variation in greater covert colour, but birds with high δ15N signatures had greater coverts with higher chroma. Male arrival dates varied with tail chroma in Revelstoke and tail hue in Inuvik. Males that arrived early paired with older and/or more colourful mates that initiated clutches earlier, and at one site (Revelstoke) were more likely to fledge young. In addition, in Revelstoke (but not Inuvik) males with high tail hue also acquired more colourful mates. In contrast, after controlling for individual differences in tail colour, greater covert colour did not affect male arrival date, the quality of the mate obtained or reproductive success in either population.ConclusionsOur results suggest that plumage colour effects on breeding phenology and mate acquisition result from differences in the intrinsic quality of individuals rather than a carry-over effect of winter habitat use.

Individual quality and double-brooding in a highly synchronous songbird population

“…Analysis of return rates was done using generalized linear mixed-effects models with a binomial distribution, controlling for individual (band number) and year as random factors. Significance was determined by comparing the fit of the models with and without the terms of interest using likelihood ratio tests (as in Jones et al 2014). Subsequent-year productivity was analyzed using a zero-adjusted Poisson (ZAP) or hurdle model, similar to Jones et al (2014), due to the high distribution of zeros and few repeat measures (no random effect of individual).…”

“…Significance was determined by comparing the fit of the models with and without the terms of interest using likelihood ratio tests (as in Jones et al 2014). Subsequent-year productivity was analyzed using a zero-adjusted Poisson (ZAP) or hurdle model, similar to Jones et al (2014), due to the high distribution of zeros and few repeat measures (no random effect of individual). These models are suitable for data with a high proportion of true zero values (cf.…”

“…Mean values and 95% confidence limits of productivity and breeding cost metrics. The 1 st P-value corresponds to the comparison between all single-brooders and all double-brooders, the 2 nd P-value to the comparison between successful single-brooders and all double-brooders, and the 3 rd P-value to the comparison between successful and failed double-brooders of European Starlings in our study site in British Columbia, Canada, 2004-2014. Productivity is the number of chicks fledged, and local return rate is the percentage of females that returned to the study site in subsequent breeding seasons.…”

Conditions on the Mexican moulting grounds influence feather colour and carotenoids in Bullock's orioles (Icterus bullockii)

“…Similarly, ornament production has been linked to over-wintering conditions in both pied (Ficedula hypoleuca) and collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis), which also molt in sub-Saharan Africa (Garant, Sheldon, & Gustafsson, 2004;Järvistö, Calhim, Schuett, & Laaksonen, 2016). In North America, yellow warblers (Setophaga petechia) undergo a pre-alternate molt of body feathers on the wintering grounds; birds overwintering in higher-quality habitat (inferred via stable isotope analysis) produced more colorful feathers (higher chroma), which are important for mate choice during breeding (Jones, Drake, & Green, 2014). Though American redstarts molt near the breeding grounds, Reudink et al (2015) demonstrated that over an 11-year period, the amount of rainfall experienced during the postbreeding molt was associated with carotenoid-based tail coloration in the subsequent season.…”

Interactive effects of arrival date, territory quality and male polyterritorial behaviour on the mating system of the sedge warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus: a path analysis

“…Indeed, early males mate more successfully (Aebischer et al 1996, Lozano et al 1996, Smith and Moore 2005, Zając et al 2006, Sergio et al 2007), benefit from polygynous (Alatalo et al 1984, Hasselquist 1998, Canal et al 2021) and extrapair matings (Langefors et al 1998, Møller et al 2003, Cooper et al 2011) or both (Reudink et al 2009a, Canal et al 2012). The time of male arrival is often related to the attractiveness of sexual signals, such as song (Arvidsson and Neergaard 1991, Lampe and Espmark 1994, Kipper et al 2006) and plumage traits (Slagsvold and Lifjeld 1988, Møller 1994, Ninni et al 2004, Jones et al 2014).…”