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

ABSTRACT:

Background

In 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 (Inuvi

SUBMITTER: Jones TB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4024118 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature