Talk:Sexual selection in birds

Ways in which the article can be improved

1. In the “female choice” section of the page, I think that it would be helpful to add how there are two different components to how these signals were developed. First, there is the design component and then efficacy. I think it would be helpful to add this because it would illustrate that these traits that increase the fitness of the animal do not just randomly happen and that there is a reason why these traits have stuck around. 2. Under the “visual signaling” heading, I would add the information about cosmetic coloration in flamingos. I would add how during mating season flamingos have an increase in preen oil formation which leads to an increase in the brightness of flamingos feathers, which makes them more appealing to females and increase the males fitness. 3. Under the “visual signaling” heading, I would talk about widow birds and how they have extremely long tail feathers that affect their fitness and the length of these feathers helps the female select her mate. These long tail feathers are a hindrance to the bird but evolutionary forces have selected for the long tail feathers. “Cosmetic coloration is another mechanism by which male birds use to try to attract a mate. Cosmetic coloration involves brightening of a birds feathers, thus making it more attractive to females.” Amat, JA, et.al. 2010. Greater flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus use uropygial secretions as make-up. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 65(4): 665-673. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Townsend.760 (talk • contribs) 02:13, 1 October 2014 (UTC)