Sexual behaviour and novel stimuli in male japanese quail (coturnix coturnix japonica)

Sexual performance levels following the presentation of a novel stimulus were examined in male Japanese quail. During a 1-hr observation period males were presented either with a new stimulus female each 20 min, with the same female removed briefly at 20-min intervals or with the same female left undisturbed. Although the latency to grab the neck of the famel was shorter in the group receiving a fresh female after 20 min, the overall number of completed copulations was unaffected by the treatments. It is concluded, therefore, that novelty is not an important factor governing sexual performance levels of male Japanese quail under these test conditions.