Influence of colour-banding on the conspecific preferences of zebra finches

Male and female zebra finches are affected by the colour of plastic leg bands worn by opposite-sex conspecifics. They find certain colours more attractive, and others less attractive, than the natural unbanded condition. Females prefer red-banded males over unbanded ones, and avoid light-blue and light-green banded males. Males prefer black and pink banded females and avoid those wearing light-blue or light-green bands. These findings may have utility for the study of mate choice in monogramous species; they also raise important questions about a widely used experimental technique.