Home
Scholarly Works
Influence of colour-banding on the conspecific...
Journal article

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

Abstract

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.

Authors

Burley N; Krantzberg G; Radman P

Journal

Animal Behaviour, Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 444–455

Publisher

Elsevier

Publication Date

January 1, 1982

DOI

10.1016/s0003-3472(82)80055-9

ISSN

0003-3472
View published work (Non-McMaster Users)

Contact the Experts team