Seasonality and Hormonal Control of Territorial Aggression in Female Song Sparrows (Passeriformes: Emberizidae: Melospiza melodia)

摘要: Male and female song sparrows perform similar aggressive behaviors including flights, wing-wave threat displays, growls. Females very rarely sing, however. To investigate the seasonal variation hormonal control of territorial aggression in females, we simulated intrusions during pre-breeding, breeding post-molt seasons field. Circulating levels testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estradiol, progesterone corticosterone females experiencing intrusion were compared to those passively netted matched for stage. Female responses dropped from pre-breeding seasons. Levels circulating androgens significantly higher than a intrusion. There no significant differences any other hormones measured. Although sparrow female-female appears be behaviorally male-male aggression, support differ between sexes.