When less is best: female brown-headed cowbirds prefer less intense male displays.

ABSTRACT: Sexual selection theory predicts that females should prefer males with the most intense courtship displays. However, wing-spread song displays that male brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) direct at females are generally less intense than versions of this display that are directed at other males. Because male-directed displays are used in aggressive signaling, we hypothesized that females should prefer lower intensity performances of this display. To test this hypothesis, we played audiovisual recordings showing the same males performing both high intensity male-directed and low intensity female-directed displays to females (N = 8) and recorded the females' copulation solicitation display (CSD) responses. All eight females responded strongly to both categories of playbacks but were more

SUBMITTER: O'Loghlen AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3342235 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature