| Abstract: | Inter- and intraindividual variation of the breeding plumage ornamentation in male Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca from the Moscow province population (55 degrees 44' N 36 degrees 51' E) was studied using long-term data (1996-2005). Eumelanin prevailing colour type (CT) scored according to the seven-step Dorst scale (Dorst, 1936), age, and reproductive status during the current breeding season were analyzed as potential sources of variation of the white ornamentation on the forehead, the wings, and the tail in males. Male CT strongly varied, from almost black to cryptic brownish (2-7, average 4.4, N = 1403). On average CT became I1degree darker with age and tended to be stable after the age of two years. Initial and final CT strongly correlated (r = 0.76). Wing ornamentation and forehead patch (FP) were associated with both initial and final CT, whereas correlation between tail ornamentation and CT was observed only in aged males. Ornamentation was most variable in males with cryptic (pale) CT. Such males had, on average, less intense forehead and wing ornamentation than conspicuous males, compensating this difference by having more intense ornamentation next year. These data suggest the weakening of morphogenetic relations between prevailing colour and ornamentation in males with cryptic phenotype. The return rate (rate of conspicuous males returning to their previous nesting territory) was not related to the success of their previous breeding attempts. Among pale males, the return rate was higher in breeders than in non-breeders. The relation between FP shape and reproductive status was pronounced only in pale males. Among pale males, previous breeders and non-breeders displayed no difference in the degree of prevailing colour darkening next year. In conspicuous males, previous breeding led to the weakening of dorsal eumelanin pigmentation of the new plumage, which suggests the existence of tradeoffs between reproductive efforts and the development of rich eumelanin coloration. Among pale males, previous breeders displayed a higher rate of FP widening next year than previous non-breeders. Diffrerent patterns of relations between male ornamentation and reproductive experience suggest that the females can use plural clues to evaluate the quality of their potential mates. |
