Achromatic Plumage Reflectance, Social Dominance and Female Mate Preference in Black‐Capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus)

Abstract

Individual variation in achromatic plumage reflectance of male Blackcapped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) is correlated with social rank and reproductive success, suggesting it may play an important role in sexual signaling. We asked whether female chickadees could assess male quality based on plumage, in the absence of information about relative social dominance. Sexually mature but inexperienced females captured during the pair formation period in late fall and early winter were presented with a choice of two unfamiliar, sexually experienced males in separate compartments of an outdoor mate choice arena. Following each preference trial, we released the males into a single compartment and scored their pairwise dominance interactions. In 10 of 11 trials, females spent significantly more time with the male subsequently identified as dominant, despite not witnessing the males interact. Spectral analysis of male plumage reflectance revealed that UV-chroma of dark body regions (bib, cap and mantle) was significantly greater in dominant, preferred males and that dominant, preferred males had significantly brighter white cheek patches. There were no differences in vocalization rates of preferred and nonpreferred males. These results show that female chickadees can rapidly assess unfamiliar males based on visual cues, and suggest that variation in achromatic plumage functions in sexual signaling.

Microanatomy of passerine hard‐cornified tissues: Beak and claw structure of the black‐capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

“…Thus, the preferential incorporation of melanin granules into the chickadee rhamphotheca could further harden the hard‐cornified epidermis in regions of increased wear (Bonser and Witter,1993). In addition, melanin pigmentation, which is responsible for the beak's dark color, plays a role in social signaling and its expression in the integument of Black‐capped Chickadees has been associated with dominance, reproductive status, and physiological condition (Mennill et al,2003; Doucet et al,2005; Woodcock et al,2005). Accordingly, melanin granules are especially abundant in the superficial and, therefore, visible regions of the chickadee rhamphotheca.…”

Empirical study of hybrid zone movement

“…Heliconius erato hydara butterflies appear to have a slight advantage over Heliconius erato petiverana and selection by predators has been inferred (Blum, 2002). A competitive advantage for the advancing taxon has also been inferred in the movement of hybrid zones between: chickadees P. atricapillus and P. carolinensis (Bronson et al, 2003b;Woodcock et al, 2005;Reudink et al, 2006), butterflies A. fatima and A. amathea (Dasmahapatra et al, 2002), lice species Geomydoecus aurei and Geomydoecus centralis (Hafner et al, 1998), and crows Corvus corone cornix and Corvus corone corone (Saino and Scatizzi, 1991;Rolando and Giachello, 1992). Differential parasite infestation may play a role in a hybrid zone of warblers Hippolais polyglotta and Hippolais icterina (Reullier et al, 2006).…”

“…In a hybrid zone between chickadees Poecile atricapillus and Poecile carolinensis, dominance of P. carolinensis males, or their preference by P. atricapillis females may aid the zone's movement in favour of P. carolinensis (Bronson et al, 2003b;Woodcock et al, 2005;Reudink et al, 2006). Katydid Orchelimum nigripes females show a conspecific mate preference, whereas O. pulchellum females show no clear preference; this may cause movement in favour of O. nigripes (Shapiro, 2001).…”

Males in seemingly female‐like plumage do not mimic females: UV reflectance reveals temporal cryptic dimorphism in a manakin species exhibiting delayed plumage maturation

“…Our assumptions are based on the fact that low UV reflectance (< 15%) (Church et al 1998, Hunt et al 1998, and even subtle differences (< 5%) in the UV spectral reflectance (Andersson and Amundsen 1997, Bennett et al 1997, Andersson et al 1998, Siitari et al 2002, Woodcock et al 2005) may influence bird behavior. Nonetheless, avian visual communication and the conspicuousness of visual signals in the field may be affected by ambient light properties and availability (Théry and Vehrencamp 1995, Endler and Théry 1996, Théry 2006, that in turn depend on environmental traits such as forest geometry and weather conditions (Endler 1993).…”