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Social environment during molt and the expression of melanin-based plumage pigmentation in male house sparrows (Passer domesticus)

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Abstract

Evolutionary biologists have shown much recent interest in the costliness and signal content of colorful plumage displays in birds. Although many studies suggest that both carotenoid- and structurally-based plumage colors are condition-dependent indicators of health and nutritional state at the time ornamental feathers are grown, there is little experimental evidence supporting the idea that melanin pigmentation is a reliable signal of condition during molt. Instead, melanin-based ornamental coloration often reveals the competitive ability and dominance of individuals throughout the year. However, this work does not indicate which proximate environmental factors shape the expression of melanin pigmentation at the time of feather growth. Because of the link between melanin coloration and the social environment, it is possible that the development of brightly colored plumage may be associated with aggressive social interactions during feather molt. Here, we show that melanin-based ornamental coloration in male house sparrows (Passer domesticus) is correlated with the degree to which individuals interact aggressively with conspecifics during molt. Males that were dominant (beta, but not alpha) within captive social groups during molt grew larger badges than subordinates. Groups of males that had higher rates of aggression during molt grew larger badges than less aggressive triads. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that melanin pigmentation and plumage-based status badges are related to the competitive history of individuals during feather development. By coupling badge size directly with aggressive experiences during molt, birds can use their status signal to honestly indicate their likelihood of winning agonistic encounters throughout the year.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Owens family, Mike Stickney and staff at the Reynolds Game Farm, and Northeast Elementary School for permission to trap birds, D. Gilley, M. Smith, and T. Van Deusen for assistance with animal care, E. Adkins-Regan, R. Northcutt, R. Parker, L. Remage-Healey, D. Rubenstein, and K. Sughrue for helpful discussions of melanin physiology, S. Vehrencamp for logistical support, and M. Webster and three anonymous reviewers for comments that greatly improved the manuscript. This work was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Cornell University (Protocol # 99–89). Financial support was provided by Grants-in-Aid of Research from the National Academy of Science through Sigma Xi, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Sigma Xi chapter at Cornell University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA

    Kevin J. McGraw, James Dale & Emiko A. Mackillop

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC, V5A 1S6, Canada

    James Dale

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA

    Emiko A. Mackillop

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  1. Kevin J. McGraw
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  2. James Dale
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  3. Emiko A. Mackillop
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Correspondence to Kevin J. McGraw.

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McGraw, K.J., Dale, J. & Mackillop, E.A. Social environment during molt and the expression of melanin-based plumage pigmentation in male house sparrows (Passer domesticus). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 53, 116–122 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-002-0558-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-002-0558-z

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