Female and male song rates across breeding stage: testing for sexual and nonsexual functions of female song

摘要: As a textbook example of sexually selected trait, song in male birds has been extensively examined the context female mate choice and male–male competition for access to mates. Female is also phylogenetically widespread, probably ancestral. However, we know relatively little about when why females sing. may be important female–male communication, e.g. fertility advertisement, attraction or coordinating care young. Alternatively, function female–female reproductive resources, nest sites, year-round territories parental assistance. We quantified spontaneous song, response playback an unfamiliar superb fairy-wrens, Malurus cyaneus, across breeding stages. found that males sang with roughly equal frequency spontaneously; however, much more frequently than song. no difference rates stage, effect age presence subordinates. In both sexes, increased slightly season. were repeatable Overall, results suggest although likely multipurpose as males, primary fairy-wrens appears competition.