La Tour du Valat

Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes

Titre :	Parental care does not vary with age-dependent plumage in male Saffron Finches Sicalis flaveola
Auteurs :	Andres G. Palmerio, Auteur ; Viviana Massoni, Auteur
Type de document :	Article
Dans :	Ibis (153(2) APR 2011)
Article en page(s) :	421-424
Résumé :	The status signalling hypothesis states that conspicuous male plumage varies among males and serves as an honest signal of male quality and competitive ability. We expected immature-plumaged males of the Saffron Finch Sicalis flaveola to feed their incubating mates and nestlings and remove faecal sacs at lower rates than those of mature-plumaged males. We also predicted that females paired with immature-plumaged males would compensate for their mates' lower contribution. We found no differences in either feeding rates or sanitation rates between immature- and mature-plumaged males. Similarly, females mated to immature- and mature-plumaged males fed nestlings at equivalent rates. Apparently, male plumage colour and age are not reliable signals of the ability of a male Saffron Finch to provide for his mate and offspring.

Lundi , mardi et jeudi de 9h à 12h et de 13h à 17h00 : ouverture au public ...