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The effects of preen oils and soiling on the UV–visible reflectance of carotenoid-pigmented feathers

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Abstract

Plumage coloration, particularly when carotenoid-based, is important in social signaling in birds. Although feather color is a relatively stable trait, individuals may modify it with “cosmetic” substances such as preen oils. In addition, dirt accumulation may influence plumage coloration and further affect signal perception by receivers. Here, we analyze the separate potential effects of preen oils and soil accumulation on the reflectance properties of carotenoid-pigmented feathers across the visual range of most bird species, which includes the ultraviolet (UV). Using the yellow portion of tail feathers of Bohemian waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus), we performed two separate experiments where: (a) preen oils and/or soil were removed, or (b) preen oils (from black-billed magpies Pica pica or eagle owls Bubo bubo) were added. Preen oil addition reduced brightness but increased UV hue and yellow chroma. UV chroma was reduced by the addition of magpie (but not owl) preen oil. Soil accumulation had little effect on plumage reflectance in the UV range but significantly reduced yellow chroma. According to models of avian vision, both of these effects are detectable by birds and biologically meaningful when compared with natural variation between the sexes and age classes. We conclude that preen oil and soil accumulation can significantly affect the UV–visible reflectance of carotenoid-based plumages. As such traits typically advertise individual quality, preening and soiling have the potential to modify the information content of carotenoid-based plumage traits and how these signals are perceived by receivers.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Elenis Crespo and Raspa de Prada (Centro de Recuperación de Fauna Silvestre “El Chaparrillo”) for their help during preen oil collection from eagle owls. Doris Gomez and Jesús M. Avilés kindly provided advice on some computational details of visual models. We also thank Jesús T. García for genetic sexing of the birds and Ismael Galván and two anonymous referees for their comments on the manuscript. L. P.-R. was supported by a postdoctoral contract (07/028-A) from Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha (JCCM) and a “Juan de la Cierva” contract from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN). Funding was also provided by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Stuart and Mary Houston Professorship in Ornithology (to G. R. B).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain

    Lorenzo Pérez-Rodríguez

  2. Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC), Carretera de Sacramento s/n, La Cañada de San Urbano, 04120, Almería, Spain

    Francois Mougeot

  3. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain

    Lorenzo Pérez-Rodríguez & Francois Mougeot

  4. Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, S7N 5E2

    Gary R. Bortolotti

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  1. Lorenzo Pérez-Rodríguez
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Correspondence to Lorenzo Pérez-Rodríguez.

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Communicated by E. Fernandez-Juricic

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Pérez-Rodríguez, L., Mougeot, F. & Bortolotti, G.R. The effects of preen oils and soiling on the UV–visible reflectance of carotenoid-pigmented feathers. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 65, 1425–1435 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-011-1153-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-011-1153-y

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