Bird Courtship

Question 1

Name 4 types of courtship measures displayed by birds

Answer 1

1. Visual
2. Vocal
3. “Gifts” (food provision)
4. Preening

Question 2

Name 4 types of visual courtship strategies used by birds

Answer 2

• Plumage (breeding vs eclipse) – birds see in colour, so this plays an important part in mate attraction and selection (see note on the “Runaway Hypothesis vs Handicap Principle”)
  
  • Widow-birds
• Nest building – the most well constructed and suitable nest will attract the most interest from discerning females (male often responsible for nest-building in polygamous species – “scorned” nests are torn down and painstakingly re-built)
  
  • Weavers
• Display – may involve showing off of breeding plumage, more complex behaviours undertaken in flight (aerial displays), or ritualized courtship dances
  
  • Red-crested Korhaan
• Lek courtship – males aggregate into communal courtship grounds called “leks” or “arenas” – combined effort is effective in attracting higher number of females
  
  • Indigobirds and whydahs

Question 3

Explain the Runaway Hypothesis vs the Handicap Principle

Answer 3

The “runaway hypothesis” is based upon the theory that females will select males that have the most striking colours and longest display plumage. This would lead to their offspring carrying through these traits, and hence the display plumage becomes more and more ostentatious. But this is eventually limited by the “handicap principle” which proposes that at a certain point the longer display feathers will become cumbersome and render the male less able to avoid predators or feed effectively, taking them out of the gene-pool.

Question 4

Name 3 polyandrous bird species

Answer 4

1. African Jacana (*Lesser is monogamous)
2. Kurrichane Buttonquail
3. Greater Painted Snipe

Question 5

What is the difference between polygny, polygamy, and polyandry?

Answer 5

• Polygamy: More than one mate, only one parent responsible for rearing the young
  
  • More pronounced sexual dimorphism (usually the male being more striking or attractive than the female)
    
    • Polygyny is a form of polygamy which involves one male mating with many females during a breeding season – the female takes on full parental responsibility
    • Polyandry is a form of polygamy which involves one female mating with many males during a breeding season (usually involves reversed sexual dimorphism – female being more attractively patterned than the male) – the male takes on full parental responsibility

Question 6

What is the difference between nidiculous and nidifugous?

Answer 6

• Altricial chicks may also be known as “nidicolous” (nest-bound), whilst precocial chicks are “nidifugous” (independent of the nest immediately after hatching)

Question 7

Name 5 co-operative breeder species of birds

Answer 7

1. Oxpeckers
2. Arrow-marked Babblers
3. Helmet Shrikes
4. Green Wood-hoopoes
5. Southern Ground Hornbill