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Ultraviolet reflectance influences female preference for colourful males in the European serin

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology volume 68, pages 63–72 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Avian plumage colouration is one of the most impressive displays in nature and is frequently used as sexual signal. There is now considerable evidence that females consistently prefer males with the most elaborated colour displays. Bird colour vision expands into the ultraviolet (UV) range, which prompted several studies to test the importance of UV in mate choice, revealing that females are affected by the UV light component. These studies were mostly performed on structural plumage, whereas carotenoid-based plumage was rarely considered, although it also has a typical reflection peak in the UV. Our study tested the female choice over male yellow colouration, and whether it is influenced by UV removal, in the European serin (Serinus serinus), a sexually dichromatic cardueline finch, with males showing a conspicuous carotenoid-based yellow plumage. We shows that females preferred yellower males and that male attractiveness was lost when the UV colouration was blocked, with either of the UV-blocking techniques used. The results of our study indicate that the UV component of carotenoid colouration is important in the female mate assessment in serins and highlights the importance of considering colour perception in avian mate choice.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Caterina Funghi, Gonçalo Cardoso, Marta Costa, Sandra Trigo and Teresa Mamede for helping in capturing and maintenance of birds and for their helpful comments. We are grateful to the Editors and to two anonymous referees for their valuable comments. This research was supported by the project PTDC/BIA-BEC/105325/2008 to PGM from the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia.

Ethical standards

This work was performed in accordance with the Portuguese National Authority for Animal Health (DGAV). Permits for animal capture, transport, maintenance, handling and experiments were carried out under the Institute for Nature Conservation and Biodiversity licences (63/2008/CAPT and 28/2011/CAPT) to PGM, according to Portuguese legislation.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Apt. 3046, 3301-401, Coimbra, Portugal

    Ana V. Leitão, Anabela H. Monteiro & Paulo G. Mota

  2. CIBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal

    Ana V. Leitão, Anabela H. Monteiro & Paulo G. Mota

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  1. Ana V. Leitão
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  2. Anabela H. Monteiro
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Correspondence to Paulo G. Mota.

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Communicated by K. McGraw

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Leitão, A.V., Monteiro, A.H. & Mota, P.G. Ultraviolet reflectance influences female preference for colourful males in the European serin. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 68, 63–72 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-013-1623-5

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