In a message dated 02/11/2000 5:05:57 PM Pacific Standard Time,
Hummer at isomedia.com writes:

<< t got me to wondering if anyone has considered differential predation as a
causal influence in sexual dimorphism. If predators (i.e. eagles, harriers,
>>

That's an interesting take on it. I never considered it in that light. I've
always thought that males with bright plumage have it as a sexual signaling
device...i.e. the male bird with the best plumage or the longest feathers,
etc, is more likely to mate and pass on those characteristics than a male
bird who's plumage isn't so nice.

Recently someone did a neat bit of science with zebra finches. They stuck a
white feather on the crest of a very low status male bird and the females all
went bugnuts about him. Zebra finches have no such feathers, especially white
ones, so the response of the females to a unzebra finch like topfeather was
obviously....um, what's the word.........oh, darn it..a senior moment.
Innate? No...darn it....the concept then......the female finches were
reacting to the feather through some other mechanism than just plumage
appreciation. Darn it, that didn't come out right. I think I'll go sit down
and pout.

Michelle Blanchard
MBlanchrd at aol.com