Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 86-93 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Animal Behaviour |
| Volume | 32 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Feb 1984 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Signals of status in wintering white-crowned sparrows, Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii. / FUGLE, Gary N.; ROTHSTEIN, Stephen I.; OSENBERG, Craig W.; MCGINLEY, Mark, Alan.
In: Animal Behaviour, Vol. 32, No. 1, 01.02.1984, p. 86-93.Research output: Journal Publications › Journal Article (refereed)
TY - JOUR
T1 - Signals of status in wintering white-crowned sparrows, Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii
AU - FUGLE, Gary N.
AU - ROTHSTEIN, Stephen I.
AU - OSENBERG, Craig W.
AU - MCGINLEY, Mark, Alan
PY - 1984/2/1
Y1 - 1984/2/1
N2 - The possibility of plumage status signalling within the social systems of wintering birds has been a controversial issue. Our results are the first to demonstrate conclusively the reality of such signalling. Data from eight groups of captive white-crowned sparrows ( Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii ), each with 8 to 11 different individuals, show that immature and adult females with crowns painted to resemble more brightly coloured, dominant adult males consistently win encounters with control birds of their own age and sex. These experiments demonstrate that signals that correlate with age (adult versus immature) and sex (adult male versus adult female) are used by the birds as reliable indicators of relative dominance position. Our demonstration of status signalling draws attention to the need to explain how such a system can be evolutionarily stable and we discuss some suitable models.
AB - The possibility of plumage status signalling within the social systems of wintering birds has been a controversial issue. Our results are the first to demonstrate conclusively the reality of such signalling. Data from eight groups of captive white-crowned sparrows ( Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii ), each with 8 to 11 different individuals, show that immature and adult females with crowns painted to resemble more brightly coloured, dominant adult males consistently win encounters with control birds of their own age and sex. These experiments demonstrate that signals that correlate with age (adult versus immature) and sex (adult male versus adult female) are used by the birds as reliable indicators of relative dominance position. Our demonstration of status signalling draws attention to the need to explain how such a system can be evolutionarily stable and we discuss some suitable models.
UR - http://commons.ln.edu.hk/sw_master/4761
U2 - 10.1016/S0003-3472(84)80327-9
DO - 10.1016/S0003-3472(84)80327-9
M3 - Journal Article (refereed)
VL - 32
SP - 86
EP - 93
JO - Animal Behaviour
JF - Animal Behaviour
SN - 0003-3472
IS - 1
ER -