Meeting Abstract
Variation in avian plumage coloration can act as a signal, conveying information about individual dominance status, quality, and condition. Yet much of what we know about plumage color signaling comes from studies of male birds. For example, in red-winged blackbird males, the red epaulets (upper wing feathers) are known to function in mate attraction and to signal aggression to rival males. Carotenoid pigments are responsible for red feathers, and brighter red feathers usually indicate that a bird is in better body condition. Female red-winged blackbirds show individual variation in epaulet and throat feather coloration, and brighter red epaulets can be associated with age, body condition, and reproductive effort pre-molt. However, the possible signaling function of female red-winged blackbird coloration is unknown. Here, we investigate whether epaulet and throat color could convey information about female red-winged blackbirds’ condition and potential reproductive quality. We describe the relationships between variation in epaulet and throat color and incubation behavior, clutch size and mass, hatching success, and metrics of body condition. We predicted that females with brighter red coloration would be in better condition, and spend more time incubating, have larger clutch sizes and masses, as well as a higher hatching success. Preliminary results suggest that female epaulet color is not correlated with incubation behavior, but might predict some metrics of body condition. Our findings demonstrate the potential for individual variation in female plumage to convey information about a female’s condition and reproductive investment, indicating that it could be used as a signal in intraspecific communication.
