| Do spotless starlings place feathers at their nests by ultraviolet color? | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 19941130 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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A considerable number of bird species carry feathers to their nests. Feathers' presence in the nests has traditionally been explained by their insulating properties. Recently, however, it has been suggested that feathers carried to the nests by females of the spotted starling (Sturnus unicolor L.) could have an ornamental function based on their ultraviolet (300-400 nm) and human-visible longer wavelength (400-700 nm) coloration. In our population, 95.7% of feathers found inside next-boxes occupied by nesting starlings were rock dove fly feathers. Of these feathers, 82.7% were naturally positioned with their reverse side oriented toward the entrance hole and 42.4% of all found feathers were situated within the nest-cup. Here we experimentally assess the signaling function of ultraviolet coloration of feathers in nests of spotless starlings by providing nests with a number of pigeon flight feathers that were respectively treated on their obverse, reverse, both, or neither side with a UV blocker. Starlings placed 42.5% of the experimental feathers in the nest-cup irrespective of the UV block treatment. Orientation of feathers toward the entrance hole was not related with their ultraviolet radiation. However, feathers placed within the nest-cup were more likely found with their reverse side oriented toward the entrance hole confirming our correlative findings. These results suggest a minor role of ultraviolet coloration on feather location by spotless starlings. |
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Authors:
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Jes?s M Avil?s; Deseada Parejo; Tom?s P?rez-Contreras; Carlos Navarro; Juan J Soler |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Date: 2009-11-26 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Die Naturwissenschaften Volume: 97 ISSN: 1432-1904 ISO Abbreviation: Naturwissenschaften Publication Date: 2010 Feb |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-01-28 Completed Date: 2010-04-23 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0400767 Medline TA: Naturwissenschaften Country: Germany |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 181-6 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Departamento de Biolog?a Animal y Ecolog?a, Universidad de Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain. javiles@eeza.csic.es |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Color Echolocation / physiology Feathers / anatomy & histology, physiology*, radiation effects Female Flight, Animal / physiology Humans Male Maternal Behavior Nesting Behavior* Orientation / radiation effects Paternal Behavior Starlings / physiology* Ultraviolet Rays* Vision, Ocular / physiology |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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