biostudies-literatureCasagrande SFWO-FlandersErasmus Placement programFWO post-doctoral Pegasus Marie Curie FellowshipUniversity of Antwerp (TOPBOF)e2512https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5068346biostudies-literatureUnknown4Song is a sexually selected trait that is thought to be an honest signal of the health condition of an individual in many bird species. For species that breed opportunistically, the quantity of food may be a determinant of singing activity. However, it is not yet known whether the quality of food plays an important role in this respect. The aim of the present study was to experimentally investigate the role of two calorie-free nutrients (lutein and cholesterol) in determining the expression of a sexually selected behavior (song rate) and other behaviors (locomotor activity, self-maintenance activity, eating and resting) in male zebra finches (<i>Taeniopygia guttata</i>). We predicted that males supplemented with lutein and cholesterol would sing at higher rates than controls because both lPeerJPositive effect of dietary lutein and cholesterol on the undirected song activity of an opportunistic breeder.PMC506834605-05-1.2.205.13NEens MZaid ECasagrande SPinxten RfalsePositive effect of dietary lutein and cholesterol on the undirected song activity of an opportunistic breeder.Song is a sexually selected trait that is thought to be an honest signal of the health condition of an individual in many bird species. For species that breed opportunistically, the quantity of food may be a determinant of singing activity. However, it is not yet known whether the quality of food plays an important role in this respect. The aim of the present study was to experimentally investigate the role of two calorie-free nutrients (lutein and cholesterol) in determining the expression of a sexually selected behavior (song rate) and other behaviors (locomotor activity, self-maintenance activity, eating and resting) in male zebra finches (<i>Taeniopygia guttata</i>). We predicted that males supplemented with lutein and cholesterol would sing at higher rates than controls because both l2016-01-01T00:00:00Z20162025-04-05T15:56:33.683Z2019-03-27T02:26:58ZS-EPMC50683462776132110.7717/peerj.2512