Maintaining appearance: The appearance of male wrens can be misleading

In many animals, female preference for males with the most complex appearance is an important feature in the evolution of bright and dramatic colors.

It is thought that women prefer colored males because only ‘high quality’ males – those with the most resources, advanced furnishing skills or social status – can produce the most vibrant colors and to maintain.

By choosing these high quality males, the females can ensure a good father or good genes for their children.

But do high-end men prefer women to invest more than they look like?

A new study by ornithologists at Monash University suggests, no need.

Led by PhD graduate Dr Alex McQueen, from Monash University’s School of Biological Sciences the study was published in Behavioral Ecology examine whether prominent colors of elegant wren indicate male quality.

“We examined whether only the best quality men with excellent resources can produce the most vibrant colors and whether only the best quality men can keep their colors in solid condition, said Alex. “We also tested this in a test, by giving testosterone to some of the males that made them breed colors in the winter.”

“Surprisingly, we found that all true male wrens produced and maintained vibrant colors, regardless of their ‘natural quality’. The males also did. who had to breed colors in challenging winter conditions revealing vibrant colors that could not be identified from other males, “she said.

Each year true male wrens change color by moving from non-breeding brown feathers to blue and black ultraviolet breeding feathers.

As they fall, males light up their colors for females by performing complex sexual performances.

“We found that maintaining their colors would be particularly important in this species for two reasons: first, the females that prefer females hatch earlier. than all other males, many months before breeding began, meaning that these early males display their breeding colors for the longest time each year; and secondly, ultraviolet blue feathers have been shown to disappear over time in other birds, “said Alex.

The research team measured the colors of the wild male wren several times a year.

And they recorded the time males spent releasing when they were non-breeding brown feathers and the colorful breeding feathers.

“We were very surprised to find that male breeding colors do not fade over time,” said Alex.

“Despite keeping their colors in a solid state, males did not spend more time pruning while breeding feathers,” she said.

The research team found that, instead, males reproduced their breeding colors by replanting a few blue feathers at a time during the breeding season.

“Our study shows that the vibrant breeding colors of true male wrens do not appear to indicate male quality for females,” Alex said.

“We also found that males are careful to keep their feather colors in good condition for sexual performances.”

###